CABINET OFFICE

European Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected.

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list senior civil servants whose move to the private sector was vetted by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005; to which company each moved; and what conditions were attached in each case.

John Hutton: The information requested, up to 31 March 2005, is available from the annual reports of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, copies of which are in the Library.
	I understand that, since 1 April 2005, the Advisory Committee has considered the following appointments:
	
		
			 Name, former Department and date of leaving service  Appointment  Advice 
		
		
			 D. Anderson, Department for Work and Pensions, Chief Executive, Jobcentre Plus, May 2005 Chief Executive, Co-operative Financial Services Ltd. Unconditional approval 
			
			 Sir Roger Bone KCMG, FCO, HM Ambassador to Brazil, July 2004 President, Boeing UK Unconditional approval 
			
			 Ms A. Grant, FCO, High Commissioner South Africa, May 2005 Special Adviser, Standard Chartered Bank Approved subject to the condition that, for six months from her last day in post, she should not revisit South Africa for business purposes, advise on it, or have dealings with companies there 
			
			 S. Haddrill, DTI, Director General Fair Markets, April 2005 Director General, Association of British Insurers Approved subject to the condition that, for six months from his last day of service, he should not be personally involved in lobbying Government Ministers or officials 
			
			 A Laurance, Department of Health Adviser to Minister of Health, Iraq, June 2005 Team Leader, Emergency Public Administration Reform Programme, Iraq, Adam Smith International Ltd. Unconditional approval 
			
			 Sir Roderic Lyne KBE CMG, FCO, HM Ambassador to Moscow, August 2004 Adviser, ITE Group plc Unconditional approval 
			
			 J. Spencer CB, Department for Constitutional Affairs, Director General, Clients and Policy, February 2005 Consultant, Cap Gemini UK plc Unconditional approval 
			
			 Sir John Vickers, Office of Fair Trading, Chairman, September 2005 Drummond Professor of Political Economy, Oxford University Unconditional approval

Hampton Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progresstowards amalgamating 31 inspection agencies, consequent upon the recommendations of the Hampton Review; and what assessment he has made of the (a) management and (b) financial implications of these amalgamations.

John Hutton: The mergers recommended in the Hampton report are being taken forward by the relevant Departments, who are themselves considering the financial and management arrangements.
	Work is well under way on the programme of mergers, and is on track to meet Philip Hampton's target of April 2009 for completion. For example:
	The Department of Trade and Industry have finished a consultation on their proposals for the Consumer and Trading Standards Agency.
	The Natural England and Rural Communities Bill has been brought before the House, containing provisions to create one of the Hampton thematic regulators, Natural England.
	In addition, the Cabinet Office has just finished consulting on the proposals contained in A Bill for Better Regulation", which proposes a power to enable regulatory structural reform to take place quickly, with proper scrutiny but without disproportionate use of parliamentary time.

Recycled Tyres

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of the tyres from the Government car service were recycled in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Roy Burke, to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Volunteering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many volunteering positions his Department has offered in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: All staff are offered the opportunity to use one day's paid special leave per year to undertake a volunteering activity. While the Cabinet Office does not offer specific positions for which the volunteering leave has to be used, the Department has helped facilitate activities, currently doing so through a joint Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and Home Office initiative.
	To date in 2005, 14 teams of between 10 and 20 staff have undertaken or are preparing for team volunteering events organised by CSV. In addition, 15 staff have volunteered via a CSV scheme to be mentors to schoolchildren in local schools, and other staff continue to undertake individual volunteering positions such as school governorships, charity fundraising, assisting the St. John's Ambulance, and participating in faith based activities. We survey staff annually to assess the level of volunteering activity.

Wyre Estuary (Gas Storage)

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions the Duchy has had with (a) Canatxx UK Ltd. and (b) associate companies regarding the granting of mineral working rights for gas storage under the Wyre Estuary.

John Hutton: The Duchy Office has had a couple of preliminary meetings with Canatxx UK Ltd. to hear about their proposals, but is awaiting the outcome of the planning process before holding any further more substantive discussions.
	There have been no meetings with associated companies regarding the working of minerals beneath the Wyre Estuary.

DEFENCE

Future Rapid Effect System

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed the future rapid effect system with the chief of defence procurement.

Adam Ingram: Defence Ministers meet regularly with the Chief of Defence Procurement to discuss procurement issues.

Submarines

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the running costs of the Trident submarine fleet were in 2004–05.

John Reid: Since the Trident nuclear deterrent became operational in 1994, the annual expenditure for capital and running costs has ranged between 2 and 4 per cent. of the annual defence budget.

Submarines

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarines are in service in the Royal Navy; and how many there were in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Navy has 15 submarines in service, four SSBNs (Trident) and 11 SSNs (hunter killer). The number of submarines in service in each of the last five years is set out in the following table.
	
		Submarines in service
		
			  SSBNs SSNs Total 
		
		
			 2000 4 12 16 
			 2001 4 12 16 
			 2002 4 12 16 
			 2003 4 12 16 
			 2004 4 11 15

Submarines

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the US Administration regarding (i) an extension to the service life of US Ohio-class submarines and (ii) a replacement for US Ohio-class submarines; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I have been made aware of extensions to the service life of US Ohio-class submarines as part of routine discussions on matters of common interest. Icannot comment on US plans regarding a replacement for the Ohio-class submarines; that is a matter for the US Government.

Royal Air Force

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed the state of the RAF with the Chief of Air Staff.

Adam Ingram: As the Secretary of State's principal adviser on Royal Air Force issues the Chief of the Air Staff has direct access to Defence Ministers whenever he requires and Defence Ministers regularly meet him in a variety of forums.

Royal Air Force

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that the pensions of employees at RAF Cosford are protected as part of the defence training review.

Don Touhig: In order to be awarded the Defence Training Review contract, the winning Bidder must provide a pension scheme with broadly comparable benefits to existing pensions available to employees at RAF Cosford.
	The Bidder's pension scheme will be assessed by the Government Actuary's Department to ensure that these conditions are met.

Royal Air Force

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of (a) families and (b) organisations with an interest in RAF Innsworth under the Crichel Down Rules relating to compulsory purchase; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The RAF Innsworth site has not been declared surplus to MOD requirements. For that reason, it would be premature and entail possibly unnecessary costs to embark on any detailed Crichel Down investigations at this stage. Consequently we have as yet made no assessment of how many interested parties there might be.

Land Disposals (Vale of Clwyd)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Ministry of Defence land and assets in the Vale of Clwyd he has recently disposed of; and what further plans he has to dispose of land and assets in the Vale of Clwyd.

Don Touhig: No sites are planned for sale this year or have been sold within the last year. The last sale of surplus MOD property in the area of Clwyd was in August 2003 when part of the Moel Y Parc training area, near Mold was sold.

The Balkans

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Balkans.

Adam Ingram: The security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is stable. The EU-led operation there continues to provide a safe and secure environment. In Kosovo the situation is stable, but an increase in tension is possible as the final status talks are launched. NATO's KFOR continually monitors the security situation, and is in a strong position to react to any possible threat.

Anglo-Russian Relations

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what developments there have been in relations between Anglo-Russian defence establishments since the awarding of Russian medals to UK submariners.

John Reid: We already have regular contact with the Russian Federation Ministry of Defence and armed services at several levels across a wide variety of defence matters. The highly successful role played by the Royal Navy and its contractors in the recent rescue of a Russian mini-submarine recognised by President Putin's award of medals to our people on 5 October will help cement these relationships.

Afghanistan

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his recent visit to British forces in Afghanistan.

John Reid: I visited Afghanistan between 30 September and 3 October to meet United Kingdom civilian and military personnel, senior Afghan politicians and senior officers from both NATO and the US-led coalition. I visited Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif and Kandahar and was impressed at each location by British forces' exceptionally high morale, by their effectiveness in delivering security and stability in Afghanistan and by the warmth of the support for British forces from ordinary Afghans.

Initiators

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future security of supply of initiators currently produced at Royal Ordnance, Chorley.

Adam Ingram: I am aware that the production of initiators at BAE Systems site at Chorley has been suspended since an incident at the site in March this year. We are, however, confident in the company's ability to maintain security of supply.

Force Deployments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last discussed with the Chief of the Defence Staff the availability and preparedness of the armed forces for sustained deployments.

John Reid: I regularly meet with the Chief of Defence Staff and discuss a wide range of issues affecting Defence.

Force Deployments

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the UK armed forces are (a) deployed on and (b) recuperating from operations.

Adam Ingram: Between April 2005 and June 2005 some18 per cent. of all regular forces were deployed on operations or other military tasks. This figure does not include personnel preparing for operations or recovering from operations.
	The percentage of Britain's armed forces presently recuperating from operations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on activity levels is published routinely in the MOD annual report and accounts and the quarterly MOD public service agreement performance reports; these are available on the Ministry of Defence's website.

Medals

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the backlog of applications is for (a) Suez campaign and (b) Op Telic 1 medals.

Don Touhig: As at 7 October 2005, 3,794 Suez Canal Zone campaign medal applications were awaiting assessment. Applications are cleared within six months of receipt. As at 7 October 2005, 8,054 Iraq Medal applications were awaiting assessment. Applications are cleared within three months of receipt. Although Op Telic 1 applications are not recorded separately, once they are identified they are given priority and processed in a significantly shorter period.

Iraq

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the vote on the constitution on the security situation in Iraq.

John Reid: The vote on the Iraqi constitution is testimony to the courage and fortitude of the Iraqi people in seeking a democratic future. It is likely, however, that terrorists will continue their attempts to disrupt the political process in Iraq. Coalition forces whose presence is supported by the Iraqi Government and mandated by the United Nations will continue to work closely with Iraqi Security Forces to provide and enhance security over this period.

Peace-building Capabilities (Africa)

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role his Department is playing in strengthening African peace-building capabilities.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence contributes to the strengthening of African peace-building capabilities by training and advising various African armed forces in peace support operations. We do this through permanently-deployed and short-term training teams in key countries. Around 120 British armed forces personnel are based in sub-Saharan Africa to assist in these tasks, this figure does not include our network of defence attache"s.

Veterans Awareness Weeks

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for Veterans Awareness Weeks.

Don Touhig: We are currently considering options for the future, building on the success of the first Veterans' Awareness Week held between 4 and 10 of July this year. I will make an announcement as soon as we have taken a decision on the way ahead.

Air Support Units

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which British air support units are based in Mazar-e Sharif.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 14 October 2005
	There are no RAF units based at Mazar-e Sharif. One RAF sergeant is located there to assist with air movements.

Colombia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what monitoring of UN human rights recommendations relating to aid provided by his Department to Colombia is undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The UK's bilateral military assistance to Colombia is consistent with United Nations human rights recommendations. We use the best information available to assure ourselves that Colombian military units or individuals benefiting from UK assistance are not engaged in activities that violate human rights, or internal repression or are in collusion with paramilitary organisations. This includes personal interviews and background checks. Wherever possible, we take all reasonable steps to keep in close contact to maintain this assurance throughout the duration of any project. Our sources of information on possible human rights violations by members of the Colombian security services include the United Nations and independent human rights organisations.

Departmental Estate

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what land and property is in the possession of his Department in East Belfast; and on what terms in each case.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has the following lands and properties in East Belfast:
	Palace Barracks, Holywood—freehold 56.845Ha.
	Kinnegar Base, Holywood—freehold 22.826Ha.
	Moscow Camp, Belfast Harbour estate—leasehold 6.989Ha.
	1137 Sqn, Air Cadets, Belfast city airport—leasehold 0.244Ha.
	Three married quarters (outside the military bases). Locations withheld for security reasons. These are held on a freehold basis and are house and garden".

DML

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the deficiencies in project management at DML, identified by his Department in 1996, have been completely rectified; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As a result of concerns that the Ministry of Defence had about DML's ability to manage a project as complex as D154, the company was subjected to three pre-contract award evaluations, the first in 1994 and the last in 1996. As reported by the NAO in their 1998 report into the sale of the dockyards, DML were subsequently required to implement a number of changes in order to satisfy the Department that they were adequately resourced and structured. These conditions were met and the changes in structure, processes and systems implemented by DML were instrumental in ensuring that key facilities were ready in time for the start of HMS Vanguard's overhaul in 2002. This was a major achievement, a fact that was recognised by the NAO in their 2002 report The construction of nuclear submarine facilities at Devonport".

Fixed Wing Aircraft

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operational fixed wing aircraft there are in the Royal Air Force, broken down by type.

Adam Ingram: The following table shows the number of aircraft available for operations planned to be in service with the RAF at the end of the present financial year, broken down by type.
	
		Fixed wing aircraft
		
			 Aircraft type Total fleet 
		
		
			 BAel25 6 
			 BAel46 2 
			 C-17A Globemaster 4 
			 Canberra PR9 4 
			 Harrier FA2 12 
			 Harrier GR 84 
			 Hercules C-130J 25 
			 Hercules C-130K 25 
			 Jaguar 45 
			 Nimrod MR2 21 
			 Nimrod Rl 3 
			 Sentry E3-D 7 
			 Tornado F3 97 
			 Tornado GR 139 
			 TriStar 9 
			 VC10 16

Fleet Auxiliary Support

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last assessed the needs of the Royal Navy for fleet auxiliary support; what the (a) provision and (b) demand were assessed to be; and what forecast his Department has made of future demand.

Adam Ingram: Our requirement for Royal fleet auxiliary support shipping is regularly assessed and we judge that the present fleet of 15 tankers, stores ships and logistic ships is appropriate for the Navy's requirements. As set out on page 18 of Delivering Security in a Changing World (Future Capabilities)" (CM6269) presented to the House in July 2004, we expect that a support fleet of about this size will remain appropriate for the foreseeable future.

Military Equipment

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the self-provision of equipment by HM forces to make good deficiencies.

Adam Ingram: Members of the armed forces are not required to purchase their own military equipment. The equipment they are provided with is sufficient and appropriate for the tasks they are required to undertake. I am aware that some personnel do personalise elements of their issued equipment, but this is personal preference and not due to equipment deficiencies.

US Missile Defence Agency

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests the Government have received from the US Missile Defence Agency since 2001; how many were related to ground-based interceptors; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Officials work closely with the Missile Defence Agency on joint technology programmes and to further our understanding of the US ballistic missile defence system. Requests both to and from the Agency relating to information exchange and other matters, including ground-based interceptors, therefore arise on a daily basis and are too numerous to list. The Government have not received a request from the US to base interceptors in the United Kingdom.

PRIME MINISTER

Air Miles

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister how many air miles were accrued through his official travel in 2004–05; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (a) foregone and (b) given to charity.

Tony Blair: I do not accrue air miles. Under civil service rules, officials are not permitted to use their air miles for private travel.

Climate Change

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what the outcome was of his discussions with the Indian Government on climate change, with particular reference to the position of the US Administration.

Tony Blair: At the 7 September EU-India summit, India and the EU did not make any specific reference to the position of any one country but agreed that urgent action is required by all countries to address the issue of climate change. India and the EU further committed themselves to work together closely on future global negotiations for tackling climate change, consistent with the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) beyond 2012.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the India-EU Strategic Partnership joint action plan. This is available on the No. 10 website.

India/China Visits

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list (a) Ministers and (b) officials who accompanied him on his recent visits to (i) India and (ii) China.

Tony Blair: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying me on overseas visits is included in the list. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. Information for the year 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the financial year.

Lord Birt

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) personal attributes and (b) relevant experience of Lord Birt led him to put Lord Birt forward for the position of head of Urenco.

Tony Blair: The appointment of a chairman of Urenco is not a matter for the Government.

Lord Birt

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what mechanisms were in place to ensure Lord Birt did not have access to papers on Government policy where there may have been a conflict of interest with his role for McKinsey; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Lord Birt is no longer employed by McKinsey.

No. 10 Downing Street

Sarah Teather: To ask the Prime Minister what works are planned for renovating 10 Downing street; and what the estimated costs are.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Hutton) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 302W.

No. 10 Downing Street

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost was of the recent alterations to the main entrance gates to Downing street.

Tony Blair: The total cost, including the external railings, turnstile and the access control system, was £154,969.

Tibet

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether he raised the issue of Tibet on his recent visit to China; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I discussed human rights, including Tibet, with Premier Wen Jiabao during my visit to China in September 2005. During the visit a list of individual prisoners of particular concern was handed over. This included the Tibetan prisoner Ngawang Phuljung.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and the Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, also spoke about Tibet-related issues at their meeting in New York on 19 September. The Government monitor developments in Tibet closely and regularly raises Tibet-related issues with the Chinese Government, including during our biannual UK/China human rights dialogue.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Husbandry

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations apply to the minimum time which must elapse between a calf being born and being removed from its mother.

Ben Bradshaw: The separation of a calf from its mother at a young age is a well-recognised industry practice. Legally there is no minimum time that a calf must spend with its mother. However, in the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 provides that every calf shall receive bovine colostrum as soon as possible after it is born and in any case within the first six hours of life". Defra's Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Cattle advises that calves should be left with their dam for at least 12 and preferably 24 hours after birth. It also recommends that a calf should continue to receive colostrum from its mother for the first three days of its life.

Animal Trading

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) wild animals and (b) products made from animals, illegally traded on the internet she estimates have been imported into the UK in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We do not collect figures in this form.

Animal Trading

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking (a) domestically and (b) internationally to prevent the illegal trade in (i) wild animals and (ii) products made from animals on the internet through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit based at the National Criminal Intelligence Service have been working with internet service providers in the UK, advising them on the controls affecting the trade in wildlife items, and these providers have responded positively. Ebay, in particular, have recently revised the information given to sellers about the controls relating to the trade in endangered species.
	Internationally, we are in contact with other EU member states and CITES parties who also face this problem, and are taking a similar educational approach to it.

Animal Trading

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the draft Animal Welfare Bill will include provisions to prohibit the sale of (a) wild animals and (b) products made fromanimals on the internet; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The United Kingdom is a Party to theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which is implemented within the EU by the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97).
	Under this regulation all commercial trade in wild animal species listed as endangered is already prohibited, while trade in the other less species is strictly regulated to ensure that it will not be detrimental to their wild populations.

Animal Transport

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive regarding imposition of maximum journey times for the export of live animals.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 13 October 2005
	The Scottish Executive has been fully involved in the negotiation of new EU rules on the protection of animals during transport, which were agreed by EU Ministers in December 2004. And we are continuing to work closely with the Scottish Executive on the best ways of putting the new rules in place.

Avian Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to issue a direction that poultry should be kept indoors in order to mitigate the threat of an avian influenza pandemic from migrating birds; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of such a course of action.

Ben Bradshaw: Requiring birds to be kept indoors is a relatively effective means of reducing the risk of disease being transmitted from wild birds to farmed birds. It is required in all holdings within 3 km of an infected premises during an outbreak of avian influenza.
	However it is a significant step which could cause a range of concerns. We are discussing these; with industry representatives.
	The risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza being found in the UK as a result of migrating birds is assessed as low. We are working closely with a panel of expert ornithologists and will keep this risk assessment constantly under review as new information becomes available.

Battle Area Community Transport

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to continue Government funding for the Battle Area Community Transport scheme in East Sussex.

Jim Knight: holding answer 14 October 2005
	This question refers to the funding the Battle Area Community Transport received until this year under theRural Transport Partnership scheme, part of the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages Programme. It has always been the case that this funding was time limited and not to be viewed as mainstream support.
	From April 2005 until March 2006, responsibility for the remainder of the Rural Transport Partnership funding for community transport projects in East Sussex has transferred to the South East England Development Agency. The South East England Development Agency is looking at its rural strategic priorities to ensure careful use of funding support available in the future in line with Government priorities. Of course, there is no certainty at this time whether all existing types of projects will still be relevant. It should be noted that the Regional Development Agencies are not the major source of funding for projects such as the Battle Area Community Transport in rural areas, this will continue to be local authorities.
	The Battle Area Community Transport scheme also receives a small amount of Bus Service Operators Grant from Department for Transport.

Battle Area Community Transport

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the representations she has received regarding future Government funding for Battle Area Community Transport in East Sussex.

Jim Knight: holding answer 14 October 2005
	The information is as follows:
	12 January 2005
	Diane Stevens, Hon. Secretary of Rother Association of District Councils wrote to my predecessor, Alun Michael, expressing concern about the future funding for the Battle Area Community Transport in East Sussex in light of the closure of the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages programme.
	2 April 2005
	Valerie Wright, Chairman of Rother Association of District Councils, wrote again repeating concern about the future of core funding for the Battle Area Community Transport project. This letter was also copied to you.
	End of May 2005
	A further undated letter from Valerie Wright was received following a letter to the Association from the South East England Development Agency. Mrs. Wright complained that the message that came across from the Agency was that rural inclusion was of low priority.
	2 August 2005
	The hon. Member wrote urging Defra to reconsider funding for the Battle Area Community Transport, adding that the scheme faces the prospect of closing when funding comes to an end.

Bovine TB

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 949W, on bovine TB, for what reasons her Department does not estimate the number of badgers who die due to infection with bovine TB as part of its bovine TB strategy.

Ben Bradshaw: Mortality rates of mammals can only be determined from long term, intensive studies. This would be a very resource intensive exercise, not practical or cost effective to undertake outside of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial areas.

Bovine TB

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to make a statement on the Government's plans to deal with the incidence of bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain" was published on 1 March 2005. This sets out the Government's high level plans for working in partnership with stakeholders to reduce bovine TB over the next 10 years. I expect to make an announcement on more detailed plans for dealing with bovine TB later this autumn.

BSE

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Food Standards Agency on the reliability of a test for BSE in cattle that are over 30 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Government Ministers have accepted the advice from the Food Standards Agency, that Defra's proposed robust BSE testing system for older cattle should replace the Over Thirty Months (OTM) rule. The system is based on the use of tests which have been evaluated by the EC Commission and approved only if they perform satisfactorily in trials.

Departmental Estate

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to provide a description of the Department's estate, including (a) executive agencies, (b) staff numbers, (c) buildings and (d) any land managed.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has not been asked to provide a description of the Department's estate but if she were, she would describe the estate as currently comprising just under 230 properties throughout England and Wales. These are a mixture of freehold and leasehold properties, ranging in size from substantial laboratories and large office buildings to small offices with only a few rooms. They are occupied by just under 16,000 staff from the core-Department, its Executive agencies and consultants. The properties include eight farms which are owned by the Department and sub-let.
	The estate is actively managed by the Department to ensure it is used efficiently. DEFRA is developing a comprehensive asset management strategy covering both the core Department and its associated public bodies (i.e. its Executive agencies, NDPBs and public corporations). A key aim of the strategy will be to rationalise and improve the use of assets and to dispose of those assets which are under-utilised or under-performing in the best interests of the Exchequer.

Endangered Species

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the factors which underlie the change in the number of gross imports of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species-listed wild-caught birds in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Jim Knight: We have not carried out a specific assessment of these figures. Wildlife trade is dynamic and trends over time may reflect such diverse factors as policy decisions in exporting countries (e.g. changes to export quotas), traders gaining access to new sources of supply, market forces (supply and demand) and the actions of CITES (through the significant trade process or EC stricter measures).

Endangered Species

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set up a hotline to facilitate reporting of alleged offences under the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State has no immediate plans to establish a dedicated hotline to facilitate the reporting of alleged offences under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. However, any person who suspects such an offence can report it to the police through Crimestoppers which is a 24-hour free anonymous telephone number. Many UK police forces have a dedicated Police Wildlife Crime Officer who will be able to instigate the appropriate action if required.

International Whaling Commission

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will encourage further countries to join the International Whaling Commission.

Ben Bradshaw: I plan to meet Ministers from a number of other anti-whaling countries early in November to discuss coordination of our efforts to recruit more of the same to the International Whaling Commission (IWC). We all recognise the need to counter Japanese efforts to recruit more allies and have had some success in this regard in recent years—the Czek Republic, Belgium, Hungary, Luxembourg and Slovakia all being relatively new recruits to the anti-whaling colours. We have also had more limited success recently in dissuading some of Japan's former allies from slavishly taking the Japanese line. We will continue our efforts on both fronts in preparation for the next meeting of the IWC in June 2006.

Live Animal Exports

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will impose eight hours as the maximum journey time in relation to the export of live animals.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK has repeatedly pressed for shorter journey times for the transport of animals for slaughter. But when the new EU rules on the protection of animals during transport were negotiated last year, EU Ministers could not reach agreement on changes to journey times. The EU Commission will be reviewing the new rules, including journey times, by 2011.

Marsh Report

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to implement the recommendations of the Marsh Report; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 13 October 2005
	The Government have carefully considered the 14 recommendations made by the report of the Independent Review of Dispensing by Veterinary Surgeons of Prescription Only Veterinary Medicines (the Marsh Report). Of the recommendations made, the Government initially accepted eight, one was rejected and the remaining five were considered by the Government as part of a review of existing European legislation and also in response to a Competition Commission report investigating the cost of veterinary POMs.
	To avoid frequent changes of UK legislation the Government decided to implement the Marsh recommendations at the same time as it implemented the results of the European review of medicines legislation. This has been done in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005, which were subject to extensive public consultation. The regulations were laid in Parliament on 7 October and are due to come into force on 30 October 2005.
	The Marsh Report recommendation for a review of distribution categories of veterinary medicinal products is currently being implemented by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). The VMD has written to interested organisations and stakeholders, requesting that they identify a product, or group of products that they feel should be re-categorised and to explain why. This consultation ends on 19 October 2005 and further information can be obtained from the VMD website (www.vmd.gov.uk) under Consultations, Current".

Native Amphibians

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list native amphibians classified as (a) critically endangered, (b) endangered and (c) vulnerable; and what percentage of native amphibians this represents.

Jim Knight: No native amphibians are listed as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable under the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.
	The Natterjack toad, Great crested newt and Pool frog are listed as Species of Principal Importance under section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Species Action Plans under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) are in place for each of these species.
	The Pool frog used to occur in East Anglia but the last known native population declined to extinction in the 1990s. As part of the Pool frog action plan the status of the native species was clarified and subsequently the reintroduction potential was investigated. Following extensive research, the first release in the Pool frog reintroduction programme was undertaken in August 2005 at a site in Norfolk, using animals from Sweden. Further releases to the site will take place in future years,and monitoring will assess how the population establishes.
	A review of Priority Species and Habitats under the UKBAP is currently under way and is due to report in 2006.

Native Amphibians

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk posed to native amphibians by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytrid fungus B. dendrobatidis, has been discovered in an introduced amphibian species, the North American bullfrog, at a site in Kent.
	During 2005 English Nature has funded the Institute of Zoology to undertake screening of the native amphibians present at the Kent bullfrog site. This work is still in progress, and results are expected soon. Retrospective sampling of native amphibians collected from various locations in southern England in the 1990s detected no B. dendrobatidis infection.
	Until the results of the screening of native amphibians at the Kent site are available, it is difficult to give an accurate assessment of the risk posed by the finding of B. dendrobatidis in the UK. This is because research in other countries has demonstrated a range of responses by amphibian populations. In some cases the amphibians are infected by B.dendrobatidis but appear to show no ill effects, some amphibian populations appear to carry the infection with low levels of health effects and mortality, whilst some populations suffer massive mortality and eventual local extinction.
	It is encouraging that during routine inspections at the Kent site there have been no obvious signs of disease or higher than normal mortality among native amphibians. Moreover, to our knowledge there is no reported pattern of symptoms or mortality from other amphibian sites that would be consistent with chytridiomycosis.
	The funding of further chytrid screening work in other parts of the UK in 2006 by the Institute of Zoology is currently being discussed.

Poultry Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to ban the use of battery cages for the breeding of (a) pheasants and (b) partridges.

Ben Bradshaw: There has been little in the way of scientific research on the welfare implications of keeping game birds in cages for breeding purposes. However, under the Animal Welfare Bill we plan to introduce a Code of Practice which would include guidance on accommodation. The code would be subject to public consultation and endorsement by Parliament.

Poultry Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provisions are in place to protect the welfare of ducks reared for food; whether rearing practices will be included in the Animal Welfare Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The welfare of ducks is protected by The Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, which makes it an offence to cause unnecessary pain or distress. More detailed standards are laid down in The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 1870), which include specific requirements on inspections, record keeping, freedom of movement, accommodation, feed and water.
	There is also a specific code of recommendations for the welfare of ducks. Flock-keepers are required by law to have access to, and be familiar with this code, which encourages all those who care for ducks to adopt the highest standards of husbandry.
	There are no plans at present to amend these provisions under the Animal Welfare Bill.

Poultry Welfare

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the use of battery cages to hold pheasants and partridges; and what plans she has to improve welfare conditions for such birds.

Ben Bradshaw: There has been little in the way of scientific research on the welfare implications of keeping gamebirds in cages for breeding purposes. However, under the Animal Welfare Bill we plan to introduce a Code of Practice which would include guidance on accommodation. The code would be subject to public consultation and endorsement by Parliament.

Recycling

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has (a) to increase recycling targets and (b) to provide targets for increased recycling for local authorities beyond 2005–06; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 14 October 2005
	Defra is undertaking a review of Waste Strategy 2000 this year. Waste Strategy 2000 included a commitment for a root-and-branch" review in 2010, with smaller reviews in 2005 and 2015. The 2005 review provides an opportunity to reflect on existing policies and delivery mechanisms, to evaluate progress to date on outcomes and to re-affirm our long-term strategy on waste.
	The review will be looking at the targets set in Waste Strategy 2000.
	The Government are also currently undertaking a review of recycling and composting targets for local authorities in the light of performance against 2003–04 targets and will look at what levels and what forms of targets will be the most efficient at continuing the recent improvements we have seen. There will be a public consultation on this later this year.

Recycling

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage local councils to increase the volume and proportion of commercial waste which is recycled; and what targets her Department has for increasing such recycling.

Ben Bradshaw: Local authorities are not currently under an obligation to collect and dispose of commercial waste. However, under section 45 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, they are required to arrange for the collection of commercial waste if requested to do so by the producer of waste. The authority may charge for the collection of commercial waste. Most commercial waste is collected by private contractors.
	All waste collected by a council falls under the heading of municipal waste, even if it comes from commercial sources.
	For commercial waste (i.e. that portion of waste originating in the commercial sector which is not collected by local authorities), Waste Strategy 2000 sets out a target to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste sent to landfill to 85 per cent. of that landfilled in 1998 by 2005.
	The imposition of landfill tax is designed to help the UK achieve this target. The current rate of landfill tax is £18 per tonne, which is set to rise by £3 per year to £35per tonne by 2010. Business may receive free and independent support and advice to help them increase their profitability by sending less waste to landfill. Envirowise was set up in 1994 for that purpose. Together, these two instruments have gone a long way towards increasing the amount of commercial waste that is being recycled.
	The most recent data shows that 36.6 per cent. of commercial waste was recycled or re-used in 2002–03. Over the same period, the amount of commercial and industrial waste that was landfilled was 86 per cent. of the amount landfilled in 1998. This shows that the Government are certainly on course to meet the Waste Strategy 2000 target.

Tap Water

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research her Department has carried out on the levels of (a) female contraceptive residues and (b) farm animal growth hormone residues in tap water; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Drinking Water Inspectorate has promoted research into the issue of oestrogens from contraceptive pills in water. The research investigated the effect of conventional water treatment processes on the removal and breakdown of oestrogens. This showed that disinfection treatments such as chlorination or ozonation destroy these chemicals and physical treatments such as sedimentation or filtration remove them by adsorption.
	Other research has shown an absence of oestrogenic response in fish at raw water abstraction points, prior to treatment for drinking water. In light of these results, the Drinking Water Inspectorate is confident that oestrogens will not be detectable in tap water at significant concentrations and no further research is currently planned.
	The use of hormonal substances for growth promotion in farm animals has been banned in the EUsince 1988. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) carries out statutory surveillance to monitor compliance with the ban. Its results show no evidence of abuse of such substances. The VMD's surveillance results are available from its website: www.vmd.gov.uk.
	The Government, therefore, believe that no specific research on farm animal growth hormones in tap water is needed, as it is not considered that these substances pose a threat to drinking water quality.

Waste Recovery

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made towards meeting the Government's targets for waste recovery set in 2004.

Ben Bradshaw: The Public Service Agreement target on waste recovery, set in 2004,
	To enable at least 25 per cent. of household waste to be recycled or composted by 2005–06, with further improvement by 2008"
	derives from the recovery targets for municipal waste set in Waste Strategy 2000. These targets for recovery of value (by recycling, composting or other forms of material or energy recovery) from municipal waste were set at 40 per cent. by 2005, 45 per cent. by 2010 and 67 per cent. by 2015.
	To achieve these levels of recovery, targets for the recycling and composting of household waste were set at 25 per cent. by 2005, 30 per cent. by 2010 and 33 per cent. by 2015.
	England successfully exceeded its interim target to recycle and compost 17 per cent. of household waste during 2003–04. Figures published in Defra's Municipal Waste Management Survey show that householders in England recycled and composted nearly 17.7 per cent. of their household waste in 2003–04, up 3:2 per cent. from 14.5 per cent. in 2002–03. Provisional (unaudited) figures for 2004–05 show further improvement to a level approaching 23 per cent.
	The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) set UK businesses a target to recover 53.2 per cent. of all packaging waste in 2004. However, the UK performed considerably better than expected and actually achieved a recovery rate of 55.6 per cent.

Wild Birds

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate of the (a) sparrow and (b) buzzard population has been in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The latest (2000) figures from the Avian Population Estimates Panel suggest a GB buzzard population of between 36,000 and 51,000 pairs. The latest (2000) figures from the Breeding Birds Survey/Common Birds Census suggest a GB house sparrow population of between 2,300,000 and 4,100,000 birds. There are no annual counts, but buzzard population trends in the UK between 1994 and 2004 show a 53 per cent. increase, while house sparrow trends were down by 3 per cent. In England over the same period, buzzard populations show a 79 per cent. increase with house sparrow trends down by 10 per cent.
	Annual population statistics do not exist for Buzzard. The most recent UK population estimates are set out as follows. The estimate for Buzzard is known to be a significant underestimate, but there has been no formal survey of its current UK population size.
	Buzzard
	1983 (Northern Ireland) and 1988–1991 (Great Britain)
	12,000–17,000 pairs

Wild Birds

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ban the importation of wild caught birds.

Jim Knight: No. Adequate powers are already available under existing EU legislation to enable the Secretary of State to protect wild birds from the consequences of unsustainable trade and ensure that the relevant health and welfare needs are properly addressed.

TRANSPORT

A1

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to tackle congestion on the A1 in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

Stephen Ladyman: Measures to address congestion on the A1 through Tyneside, were identified in the Tyneside Area Multi Modal Study. The Secretary of State, in his response to the study recommendations in 2003, encouraged the Tyne and Wear local authorities to develop measures to help alleviate congestion, and also asked the Highways Agency (HA) to look at other possible congestion relief measures, including widening. The HA has made substantial progress on identifying widening solutions but this needs to be linked to the predicted outcomes from the local authorities' demand management strategy. We have recently received a Transport Innovation Fund bid from the Tyne and Wear authorities, which if successful will allow them to develop their ideas on this strategy.
	In Northumberland the HA is progressing two schemes to upgrade the A1 to dual carriageway standard. These are Morpeth to Felton and Adderstone to Belford. A preferred route has recently been announced on both these schemes.

A1

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) road accidents and (b) road fatalities there have been on the A1 (i) in Tyne and Wear and (ii) Northumberland in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Ladyman: The following table shows how many (a) road accidents and (b) road fatalities there have been on the A1 in (i) Tyne and Wear and (ii)Northumberland for the last 10 years.
	
		Number
		
			  Northumberland Tyne and Wear 
			  Fatal accidents All accidents Fatal accidents All accidents 
		
		
			 1995 1 59 0 96 
			 1996 2 62 0 111 
			 1997 4 68 1 134 
			 1998 6 83 2 136 
			 1999 3 66 2 148 
			 2000 2 70 2 152 
			 2001 1 57 1 144 
			 2002 4 77 2 161 
			 2003 3 67 1 171 
			 2004 5 53 2 143 
			 Total 31 662 13 1,396

A14 (Junction 7)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the ability of junction 7 of the A14 to cope with the traffic demands of housing expansion in and around Kettering up to 2021.

Stephen Ladyman: Northamptonshire county council, with major stakeholders including the Highways Agency, is developing a transport model (North Northamptonshire Transport Model) to assess the impact of growth area proposals on the trunk road network (including the A14 around Kettering) and the local highway network. This modelling work will assist local planning authorities in developing their local development frameworks. It will also inform local delivery vehicles of the likely cost of any mitigation work on the highway network. This will assist all parties concerned in developing a way forward for achieving sustainable development in the Kettering area.

Cambridge Guided Bus Scheme

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his decision on the Cambridge Guided Bus scheme.

Stephen Ladyman: My Department is currently considering the inspector's report of the public inquiry into Cambridgeshire County Council's application for an Order under the Transport and Works Act (TWA). Our target is to decide TWA applications within six months of receiving the inspector's report, which in this case would be by the end of January. We will make every effort to resolve the case before then.

Cambridge Guided Bus Scheme

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the inspector's report on the Cambridge Guided Bus scheme.

Stephen Ladyman: The inspector's report will be published when the decision is announced, in accordance with standard practice.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average carbon dioxide emissions per air passenger was in each year since 1990.

Karen Buck: The table below sets out the average annual carbon dioxide emissions per air passenger in kg of CO 2 per passenger for the years 1990–2003 (latest figures). The figures are based upon NETCEN data for emissions and relate to UK departures.
	
		kg CO 2 
		
			  Emissions per passenger 
		
		
			 1990 364 
			 1991 382 
			 1992 375 
			 1993 377 
			 1994 358 
			 1995 361 
			 1996 366 
			 1997 359 
			 1998 367 
			 1999 376 
			 2000 387 
			 2001 376 
			 2002 358 
			 2003 347

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector were in each year since 2000; and what measures he has in place to reduce these.

Karen Buck: Information on emissions of carbon dioxide from all sectors is available via the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory at www.naei.org.uk. The figures for the transport sector are as set out in table1. 2003 is the latest year for which official figures have been produced.
	
		Table 1: CO 2  emissions from the transport sector, by source and by end-user(1) (expressed as megatonnes of carbon) -- MtC
		
			  CO 2  emissions by source CO 2  emissions by end-user 
		
		
			 2000 33.65 41.16 
			 2001 33.52 41.21 
			 2002 34.01 41.84 
			 2003 34.36 41.57 
		
	
	(1)End user category emissions for transport also include a share of the emissions from combustion of fossil fuels at power stations and other fuel processing industries. Source category emissions do not.
	A summary of the measures currently in place to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the transport sector and other sectors was published in the December 2004 consultation document on the Review of the UKClimate Change Programme. This is available at www.defra.gov.uk. As part of the Review, the Government are considering the scope for additional policy measures to reduce emissions from all sectors. A revised UK Climate Change programme is due to be published by the end of the year.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what methods his Department uses to assess the global environmental impact, including possible effects on meeting climate change targets, of proposals for new transport infrastructure.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport assesses new transport infrastructure proposals using the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA) guidance. This guidance is published on the web and can be found at:
	www.webTAG.org.uk
	NATA assesses the impacts of new transport infrastructure proposals in terms of the Government's five transport objectives, one of which is to protect the built and natural environment. As part of assessing the impact of new proposals' on the environment, NATA requires scheme promoters to assess the impact of their proposals on greenhouse gas emissions. As carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is considered to be the most important greenhouse gas, changes in CO 2 emissions are used as the key indicator for assessing the impacts of new proposals' on climate change.

Corby Link Road

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will fund the construction of the proposed new Corby link road between the A6003 and Corby as a dual carriageway.

Stephen Ladyman: Following the publication of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy, Northamptonshire county council now feel there may be a case for dualling this proposed road from the outset. The Department will consider this in the normal way when the county council, as promoters of the scheme, seek the additional funding.

Driving Licences

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislation requires the compulsory renewal of driving licences at the age of 70; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Section 99 (1) (a) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 requires that drivers renew their licences at age 70, and every three years thereafter.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings of the (a) EU Committee on application of the legislation on access to the groundhandling market at Community airports, (b) EU Advisory Committee on unfair pricing practices in maritime transport and (c) EU Committee on application of the legislation on the minimum level of training for seafarers and the recognition of certificates issued by training institutes or administrations of third countries (STCW) are planned for the UK presidency of the EU; who will be presiding over each meeting; which other UK representatives will be present; what provision is in place for representation of the devolved governments; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) None.
	(b) One meeting of the Ad hoc Advisory Committee on Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions (liner shipping) has been convened by the European Commission during the UK presidency. We do not know if the Commission will consider convening further meetings in this period. This committee is chaired by officials of the Commission (DG COMP). The UK is represented by officials from DTI, supported by OFT and DfT. Devolved Administrations are invited to attend these meetings as part of the UK delegation.
	(c) None.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what position the Government are advocating with EU partners in respect of the inclusion within the EU emissions trading scheme of non-EU aircraft landing at European airports.

Karen Buck: The Government's aim set out in the White Paper The Future of Air Transport", published in 2003, is to achieve an environmentally effective emissions trading regime for the aviation sector that takes due regard of competition impacts and is non-discriminatory as to EU and non-EU operators. The operation of the scheme will be subject to consideration with EU partners and detailed discussion has not yet begun. The UK position will be underpinned by a rigorous assessment of impacts, including those related to competition.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will delay an increase in airport runway capacity at Stansted airport until such time as the aviation industry is fully included in a European-wide carbon trading scheme.

Karen Buck: The White Paper set out the Government's intention to press for the inclusion of aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme in 2008 or as soon as possible thereafter. It is for the airport operator to bring forward plans for a possible new runway at Stansted airport.

Heavy Goods Vehicles

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to respond to the recent consultation on the conspicuity of heavy goods vehicles.

Stephen Ladyman: A summary of the responses to the consultation will shortly be published on the Department for Transport website.
	In the light of the analysis of results of the consultation exercise DfT officials representing the UK at the 3–7 October meeting of the United Nations' Working Party on Vehicle Lighting opposed the proposal to mandate conspicuity tape for heavy vehicles and trailers. However, majority opinion at the meeting was in favour and the outcome was that mandatory fitment was agreed for certain new vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) exceeding 7.5 tonnes and certain new trailers exceeding 3.5 tonnes.

Infrastructure Development (Bournemouth)

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his plans to develop transport infrastructure in the Bournemouth area.

Karen Buck: It is for Bournemouth borough council, the local transport authority, in consultation with: members of the community; key stakeholders; and partners, to determine local transport priorities.
	Transport priorities are brought forward to Ministers through the Local Transport Plan process and my officials are currently assessing the second Local Transport Plan for the area. This plan covers the administrative areas of: Bournemouth, the borough of Poole; and parts of Dorset county council. During the first round of Local Transport Plans funding for the area increased from £2.37 million in 2000–01 to £5.756 million in 2005–06 and I look forward to working with the authorities as they progress delivery of this second plan.

London Hackney Carriages

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out what regulations restrict Hackney carriages outside London from picking up passengers when flagged down on the street.

Karen Buck: Under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, hackney carriage drivers outside London (in England and Wales) are licensed to ply for hire within a prescribed distance" (normally, as is the case in Solihull, the whole of the local authority area, but if the area is divided into zones, then one or more zones). The drivers can wait at ranks and they can pick up passengers who flag them down while they are located in their own prescribed distance; they cannot accept immediate hirings—whether at ranks or flag-downs—while outside this area.
	In addition to the provisions of taxi legislation, there is also the possibility of regulations restricting the use of hackney carriages on public highways which might have implications for where drivers can accept flagged hirings. These regulations are matters for local traffic authorities. Traffic authorities have powers to restrict or regulate the use of a road by vehicular traffic of any class under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Maritime Safety

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ships were detained in each British port by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency due to (a) sub-standard conditions and (b) breaches in safety management systems in 2004.

Stephen Ladyman: The information is as follows.
	
		
			 Place of inspection/port Number detained 
		
		
			 Aberdeen 3 
			 Belfast 7 
			 Birkenhead 2 
			 Blyth 1 
			 Bristol 3 
			 Cardiff 1 
			 Chatham 2 
			 Cleveland 1 
			 Dover 1 
			 Dundee 1 
			 Falmouth 2 
			 Glasgow 1 
			 Goole 1 
			 Grimsby 1 
			 Hartlepool 1 
			 Harwich 3 
			 Hull 8 
			 Immingham 3 
			 Ipswich 2 
			 Liverpool 1 
			 Lochaline 1 
			 Lowestoft 1 
			 Newhaven 1 
			 Newlyn 1 
			 Newport 4 
			 Peterhead 2 
			 Plymouth 2 
			 Port Talbot 3 
			 Purfleet 1 
			 River Tees/Teesport 5 
			 Rochester 1 
			 Royal Portbury 4 
			 Sheerness 6 
			 Silvertown, River Thames 1 
			 Southampton 8 
			 Stanlow 1 
			 Stockton 2 
			 Sunderland 1 
			 Swansea 1 
			 Tilbury 8 
			 Tyne 2 
			 Total 101

Midland Mainline

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of subsidy to Midland Mainline has been in each year since the first franchise was awarded; and what estimate has been made of the level of subsidy in each year until the end of the current franchise.

Derek Twigg: The Midland Mainline franchise commenced in April 1996. In August 2000 the franchise was extended for two years and as part of that arrangement has neither received any public subsidy nor made any premia payments since January 2001. This position will continue until the end of the franchise. Before 2001, the schedule of annual franchise payments was as follows.
	
		£
		
			  Franchise year Total franchise payments to Midland Mainline 
		
		
			 1996–97 16,454,794.52 
			 1997–98 6,620,838.50 
			 1998–99 1,010,861.18 
			 1999–2000 - 201,870.40 
			 2000–01 - 1,194,868.80

Midland Mainline

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the rail capacity on Midland Mainline to take account of population growth in Kettering under the Sustainable Communities plan.

Derek Twigg: A Midlands Mainline Route Utilisation Strategy was published in March 2004. We will review the capacity of the Midland Main Line when drawing up the specification for a new franchise to replace the current one, which expires in April 2008.

Public Transport (East Sussex)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total Government spending on public transport schemes in East Sussex has been in each year since 1997.

Karen Buck: holding answer 14 October 2005
	The following table shows the amounts spent on local public transport in East Sussex in each year since 1997:
	
		£ million
		
			  County council's revenue support for bus services(2)  Local transport capital allocations(3) 
		
		
			 1997–98 2.52 9.05 
			 1998–99 2.82 4.80 
			 1999–2000 3.44 5.22 
			 2000–01 3.91 7.80 
			 2001–02 3.42 10.06 
			 2002–03 3.70 10.80 
			 2003–04 3.90 10.70 
			 2004–05 (4)3.92 13.22 
		
	
	(2)Local authorities provide funding for subsidised local bus services mainly through their Revenue Support Grant (RSG) provided by the Government.
	(3)This Department provides funding for local transport capital projects including the provision of facilities and infrastructure (for example bus lanes) used by public transport.
	(4)Estimate.
	The above figures for revenue support for buses include expenditure met from funds allocated to the authority from the Department's Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) scheme. The RBSG annual allocation for East Sussex has risen from £0.56 million in 1998–99 to £0.91 million this year. In addition, East Sussex has been allocated funding totalling £3.68 million from Rural and Urban Bus Challenge competitions held between 1998 and 2003 for projects typically lasting three years. I understand that funding has also been provided by DEFRA through the Countryside Agency for local transport schemes in the county.

Railway Stations

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the expenditure on stations announced by Network Rail on 10 October 2005 is to be spent outside London.

Derek Twigg: This is a commercial matter for Network Rail. However, I understand that as well as working with developers on proposals to develop major stations in London, the company is looking for partners to take forward schemes to benefit up to 50 larger regional stations. At smaller stations across the country, instead of previous piecemeal upgrades, Network Rail plans to group sites together into clusters and to offer them to single developers as whole line of route packages.

Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the feasibility study on a possible renewable transport fuel obligation; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The study has been considering the legal and administrative feasibility of a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation as well as its cost-effectiveness and compatibility with other government objectives. A number of stakeholder workshops were held in the spring to discuss some of the key issues, and meetings have also been held with the European Commission and others. We are close to completing the feasibility study, and hope to publish it shortly.

Road Safety (Mobile Telephones)

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much funding has been allocated to dissuading motorists from using hand-held mobile telephones while driving;
	(2)  what road safety campaigns are operating to deter motorists from using a hand-held mobile telephone when driving a motor vehicle.

Stephen Ladyman: Mobile phone publicity forms part of the Government's THINK! road safety campaign. Radio and cinema advertising has been used primarily to encourage motorists not to use a hand held mobile phone while driving, but the campaign has also produced posters and leaflets which are distributed free to employers via local authority road safety officers who support our campaigns within their areas. Variable messages signs on motorways also carry advice regarding mobile phones in rotation with other THINK! Road safety messages.
	From the financial year 200304 when the legislation banning the use of hand held mobile phones was introduced until 5 April 2005, the Department invested over 1.5 million in mobile phone publicity campaigns. The Department estimates that it will spend a further 500,000 on publicity in this area in this financial year.
	In addition, in the financial year 200405 the Department paid a grant to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents under the DFT's challenge fund to prepare a leaflet on Mobile Phones and Driving for Employers which contained advice and a sample policy that employers might put in place. This projectcost 10,376. The report is available free from ROSPA's website at http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info/workmobiles.pdf.

Road Safety Advertising

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what national advertising campaigns relating to (a) reducing speed and (b) drink driving there have been in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government have run national advertising campaigns relating to reducing speed for over 10 years and to reducing drink drive for nearly 40years.
	Advertising on each of these areas is taken forward under the THINK! road safety campaign, which has an annual budget of 14.1 million. Other campaign subjects include seatbelts, teenagers and children, motorcycles, driver tiredness and mobiles.
	Speed is a year-round problem and to tackle this, the speed reduction campaign runs activity at staggered intervals throughout the year. The campaign includes TV, radio, cinema and posters with an additional radio and poster element dealing specifically with speeding on rural roads.
	The drink drive campaign runs an integrated campaign every year focused particularly at Christmas and in the summer when the killed and seriously injured statistics peak. The campaign traditionally always includes TV, radio and posters and has included cinema advertising since summer 2004. In addition, we have broadened our reach to the target audience of young men by linking with the drinks industry. For example, 20,000 pubs across the country supported the summer 2005 campaign by placing posters highlighting the issue in their pubs.

Stansted Airport Expansion

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transportwhat assessment he has made of the possible impact of (a) changes in the cost of aviation fuel and (b) public attitudes to the environmental impact of the aviation industry on plans for expansion of Stansted airport.

Karen Buck: The policy set out in the Air Transport White Paper to support a second runway at Stansted took account of the economic, social and environmental impacts.
	The Department's air passenger forecasts are kept under review and this process takes account of changes in the cost of aviation fuel along with other factors.
	BAA's planning application for a new runway at the airport will be subject to the requirements of the statutory land-use planning system. A full environmental assessment will be an important consideration during this process.

Yellow School Buses

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with encouraging the use of yellow school buses as a means of reducing traffic congestion.

Karen Buck: We know from our evaluation of various small-scale yellow and other dedicated school bus schemes that well-designed schemes have the potential to reduce car dependency for journeys to school and the traffic congestion that results from this. However, care needs to be taken to ensure that schemes do not reduce levels of walking or cycling or undermine the viability of important bus services available to the wider public.
	We therefore want to encourage individual local authorities to consider school bus schemes as part of broader local transport planning and to decide whether or not they would be appropriate to their area. We will give capital bids for such schemes careful consideration, taking account of value for money, regional priorities and affordability. We approved 18.7 million funding for a yellow bus scheme serving 100 schools in West Yorkshire as part of the local transport settlement for 200405. Funding for this project is being released in three phases with the release of the third phase of funding subject to the first phase meeting its objectives with respect to modal switch from car.
	Department for Education and Skills Ministers are currently considering how best to take forward the manifesto commitment to support innovation in home to school transport.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adoptions

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will assess the impact of the post-adoption support rules on access of adopted children and their parents to social services.

Maria Eagle: The Government recognise the importance of providing support to adoptive children and their adoptive families. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 introduced, for the first time, a clear duty on local authorities to arrange for the provision of adoption support services in their area. The new duty has also been accompanied by a ring-fenced grant to local authorities totalling nearly 70 million between 200304 and 200506. The first phase of adoption support services for adopted children and their families was implemented on 31 October 2003. Adoptive children and their families have a right to an assessment of their needs for adoption support services. Regulations set out a transparent procedure for making decisions about the services to be provided in individual cases. This should ensure greater and more consistent access to adoption support services for adopted children and parents.

Adoptions

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the co-ordination of support services for adopted children with psychological and behavioural difficulties.

Maria Eagle: The Government recognise the importance of providing support to adoptive children and their adoptive families. The Adoption and Children Act 2002 introduced, for the first time, a clear duty on local authorities to arrange for the provision of adoption support services in their area. This new duty has been accompanied by a ring-fenced grant to local authorities totalling nearly 70 million between 200304 and 200506. The first phase of adoption support services for adopted children and their families was implemented on 31 October 2003. It included therapeutic services for adoptive children and training for adoptive parents to meet any special needs of the adoptive child. These services will clearly benefit adopted children with psychological and behavioural difficulties. Furthermore, each local authority is required to appoint an Adoption Support Services Adviser to ensure that suitable inter-agency working arrangements are in place between social services, education, local health trusts and other agencies.

Adult Education

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact on the number of adult education courses of the recent change to the funding regime for the Continuing Education and Training Service.

Phil Hope: We are committed to safeguarding the continued availability of a wide range of learning opportunities for adults for personal and community development. We said in the White Paper Skills: 'Getting on in Business, Getting on at Work', published in March this year, that the DfES and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) would agree each year an overall indicative budget for such learning programmes. In 2004/05 nationally we provided over 207 million to the Learning and Skills Council in support of this learning. This has risen to 210 million in 2005/06. Announcements about the budgets for 2006/07 and 2007/08 will be made shortly.
	The Learning and Skills Council for London South plans, funds and monitors the provision of Adult Learning in Croydon on behalf of the Secretary of State. The total Further Education and Adult and Community Learning budget for Croydon's Continuing Education and Training Service has increased between 2004/05 and 2005/06 by 260,304. Their agreed development plan gives no indication of reduction in provision as a result of any change to the funding regime.

Adult Education

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have participated (a) in adult education courses and (b) in courses for people with learning disabilities in further education colleges in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The following table shows the number of learners in further education (FE) provision funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for each year from 2001/02 to 2003/04:
	
		Students in FE colleges and external institutions
		
			 Academic year(5) Number (Thousand) 
		
		
			 2001/02 3,868.0 
			 2002/03 4,197.3 
			 2003/04 4,114.2 
		
	
	(5)The figures for 2002/03 onwards are on a different basis from those for earlier years, so are not directly comparable with the figures for 2001/02. The figures from 2002/03 onwards are more comprehensive as they include some institutions (such as specialist designated institutions) previously excluded from statistical publications, and also take into account changes to funding arrangements made by the LSC since taking over responsibility for FE funding. The impact of these changes is estimated to have increased learner numbers by around 250,000 between 2001/02 and 2002/03.
	It is not possible to identify courses specifically designed for students with learning disabilities from the Individual Learner Record (ILR) data collection. However, it is possible to identify whether students self-declare themselves as having a learning difficulty and/or disability (LLDD), and numbers for the last five years have been given in answer to the hon. Member's related parliamentary question, number 17821.
	Provision for learners with LLDD remains a priority and the LSC's expectation is that the overall proportion of such learners will be maintained.

Adult Education

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students with learning disabilities have enrolled in adult education courses in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The following table shows the number of learners in further education (FE) provision funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) with a self-declared learning difficulty and/or disability (LLDD). Figures are given for each year from 1999/2000 to 2003/04:
	
		Adult education -- Number (Thousand)
		
			   Academic year(6) Students self-declared as LLDDin FE colleges andexternal institutions 
		
		
			 1999/2000 157.4 
			 2000/01 213.1 
			 2001/02 272.8 
			 2002/03 325.4 
			 2003/04 349.3 
		
	
	(6)The figures for 2002/03 onwards are on a different basis from those for earlier years, so are not directly comparable with the figures up to 2001/02. The figures from 2002/03 onwards are more comprehensive as they include some institutions (such as specialist designated institutions) previously excluded from statistical publications, and also take into account changes to funding arrangements made by the LSC since taking over responsibility for FE funding. The impact of these changes is estimated to have increased overall learner numbers by around 250,000 between 2001/02 and 2002/03, but the effect on numbers of LLDD in particular has not been estimated.

After-school Care

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether she plans to run pilot schemes for Children First clubs as part of the Department's plans for provision for children out of school hours; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 13 October 2005
	We are committed to ensuring access for all children to a variety of activities beyond the school day. As part of our extended schools strategy, we recently announced funding of 680 million to support schools, through their local authorities, towards developing extended services, including breakfast and after school clubs. By 2010, extended services will be accessible through all our schools; and in half of primary schools and a third of secondary schools by 2008.
	We do not endorse individual organisations and so will not be running pilot schemes with Children First. It will be for schools, in consultation with parents and their communities, to decide how to roll out such activities. Some may choose to deliver them direct, or through voluntary or private sector providers like Children First.

CAFCASS

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been allocated for the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service computer system in each year since its foundation.

Maria Eagle: No separately identifiable funding has been allocated to the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in respect of its computer system, and it is not usual to do so. However, CAFCASS has outlined its future IT requirements and discussed them with my officials, who have advised on the options available and on how the procurement should be approached. I have asked CAFCASS to provide a business case, for departmental approval, when it is ready.

CAFCASS

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been given to Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each of the last five years; and how much is planned for (a) 200506 and (b) 200607.

Maria Eagle: The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) was established in April 2001. Funding allocations in the previous four years were as follows:
	200102: 80.8 million cash
	200203: 84.5 million cash (including 4 million unspent in 200102)
	200304: 97.5 million on a resource basis (provision of 2.5 million was also made for 200203 debts in the transition from cash to resource accounting)
	200405: 107 million on a resource basis
	Resource budgets for CAFCASS have been earmarked as follows:
	(a) 200506: 101 million (6 million of the 107 million baseline was transferred to the National Assembly for Wales on the devolution of CAFCASS Cymru)
	(b) 200607: 101 million (provisional)
	I am monitoring the current financial position of CAFCASS and I am discussing the budget pressures with the chair and chief executive.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 30 August regarding a constituent.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 13 October 2005
	Iresponded to my hon. Friend's letter on 13 October.

Departmental Budget

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the latest estimate is of underspend by her Department (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of departmental budget for financial year 200405.

Bill Rammell: The figures requested were reported in the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (PEOWP) 200405 (Cm 6639).

Further Education Funding

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what factors were taken into account in making the decision to reduce the annual cash growth allocated to the further education sector for 2005/06 in the Government spending review.

Bill Rammell: Funding for the further education (FE) sector is not being reduced. We are putting more money than ever into further education. Total funding for the FE sector will increase by over 1 billion in 2005/06 compared to 2002/03a 25 per cent. increase.
	The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) through our annual grant letter. Funding allocations for FE providers increased by 16.3 per cent. between 2002/03 and 2003/04, by 9.1 per cent. between 2003/04 and 2004/05, and by 4.4 per cent. between 2004/05 and 2005/06.
	The particularly large increase in 200304 is a result of the consolidation of previously targeted funds, and the extra investment through Success for All. All colleges received increases in core funding rates of 2.5 per cent. above inflation in 200405 and 200506, with some colleges receiving even higher increases. The relatively lower increase in 200506 is still significantly higher than inflation and in part reflects actual learner numbers in colleges as compared to plans, and the Government's intentionas set out in the Skills Strategy and reaffirmed in the Skills White Paper: Getting on in Business, Getting on in Workto rebalance over time the contributions of the state, employers and individuals towards the costs of learning. This was reflected in a 2.5 percentage point increase in the assumed fee contribution to the cost of learning for those learners not in national entitlement groups. Even so, this resulted in seven out of 10 colleges receiving an above inflation increase in budgetalmost half of them getting an increase of over 5 per cent.

Graduate Employment

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of (a) graduates and (b) graduates from ethnic minorities were employed within (i) six months, (ii) one year and (iii) two years of leaving university in each year from 2001 to 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information showing employment rates six months after graduation is shown in the table. The Department does not hold information on employment rates of ethnic minorities one year or two years after leaving university.
	Figures showing the first destinations of graduates in 200405, six months after graduation, will be available in summer 2006.
	
		Percentage(7) of UK domiciled full-time first degree graduates from UK HE institutions in employment six months after graduation(8), by ethnicity
		
			 Year of graduation Non-white All 
		
		
			 200001 60 68 
			 200102(9) 59 67 
			 200203 66 72 
			 200304 67 72 
		
	
	(7)Based upon graduates of known ethnicity and known first destination. In each year 35 per cent. of graduates are of unknown ethnicity.
	(8)For 200001 and 200102 the information is taken from the First Destination Supplement. In 200203 this was replaced by the Destination of Leavers from HE survey, hence figures are not directly comparable between the two data sources.
	(9)In 200102 a new coding frame for ethnicity was introduced that allowed a more accurate classification for students of mixed ethnicity. As such, figures for 200001 may not be directly comparable to later figures.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
	While fewer minority ethnic graduates are likely to be in jobs initially, research tends to suggest that those in jobs may be in 'better jobs than white graduates. The research also found that ethnic minority graduates were more likely to be in further training or study 1 .
	 1 Source:
	Why the difference? A Closer Look at Higher Education Minority Ethnic Students and Graduates: DfES, 2004.

Langlands Report

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to announce the Government's response to Sir Alan Langlands' Gateways to the Professions report.

Bill Rammell: Sir Alan Langlands agreed with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills that his report would be published, along with the Government's response, in the autumn. A written statement was made to the House to this effect on 20 July 2005. I expect the report and the Government's response to be published in November.nb

PhD Students

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of PhD students in the UK emigrated to work abroad following the completion of their degree in the last period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The available information is taken from the Destination of Leavers from HE (DLHE) survey collected annually by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The DLHE survey collects information on the first destination, six months after qualifying, for UK and EU students. The latest available information is given in the table.
	
		Students obtaining doctorate qualifications who were employed overseas six months after graduation, 2003/04
		
			 Domicile Percentage(10) 
		
		
			 UK 8.6 
			 EU 43.3 
			 UK and EU 12.7 
		
	
	(10)Percentages are based upon all qualifiers of known first destination. The overall response rate for doctoral qualifiers was just over 60 per cent.
	Source:
	HESA.

Post-16 Education

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people (a) participated in further education and (b) were categorised as not in education, employment or training in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The breakdown of the number and percentage of young people (aged 16 to 18) participating in education, training and employment (including those not in education, employment or training (NEET)) over the last five years is given in the table.
	
		
			  As at end of the calendar year: 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(11) 
		
		
			 Number (Thousand)  
			 Full-time education 1,010.4 1,027.4 1,059.7 1,086.1 1,112.6 
			 Work Based Learning (WBL) 167.3 156.6 151.4 156.7 153.2 
			 Other education and training(12) 188.3 201.8 202.9 206.8 207.2 
			 Total in education and training 1,362.2 1,382.7 1,410.7 1,446.2 1,469.6 
			 In employment 262 287 297 300 286 
			 NEET 166 179 185 183 194 
			 Population 606.7 633.5 631.6 645.8 659.0 
			   
			 Percentage  
			 Full-time education 56.4 55.6 56.0 56.3 57.1 
			 Work Based Learning (WBL) 9.3 8.5 8.0 8.1 7.9 
			 Other education and training(12) 10.5 10.9 10.7 10.7 10.6 
			 Total in education and training 76.1 74.8 74.5 75.0 75.4 
			 In employment 15 16 16 16 15 
			 NEET 9 10 10 9 10 
		
	
	(11)Provisional.
	(12)Includes Employer Funded Training (EFT) and other part-time education not funded by employers or through WBL; also those in private FE and HE institutions.
	Source:
	Statistical First Release, Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16 to18 Year Olds in England.

Prisoners

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of prisoners completed an educational course at a single facility in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Special Needs Education

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent, as a proportion of total budget, by Essex local education authority on special needs education in each of the last seven years.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is only available from 200001 onwards and is contained within the following table:
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs () Total education revenue expenditure(13) () Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with SEN as a percentage of total education revenue expenditure 
		
		
			 200001 62,904,000 556,060,000 11.3 
			 200102 68,285,000 607,373,000 11.2 
			 200203 69,328,000 642,450,000 10.8 
			 200304 75,876,000 690,692,000 11.0 
			 200405 81,359,000 728,708,000 11.2 
			 200506(14) 87,946,000 789,967,000 11.1 
		
	
	(13)Total education revenue expenditure is the combination of the total schools budget and the total local authority budget.
	(14)200506 data are provisional and are subject to change by the local authority.
	Notes:
	1.Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.
	2.The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might be spent by schools on SEN and, from 200405 onwards, notional SEN delegated to nursery schools was reported on section 52 for the first time and this accounts for 13,000 and 14,000 of the 200405 and 200506 totals respectively. In 200506, Essex also budgeted 13.5 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the budgeted net expenditure on SEN as figures are not available prior to 200506.
	3.Figures are as reported by the LEA in cash terms as at 13 October 2005 and are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and may not sum due to founding.

Student Finance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether mature students are eligible for financial support in undertaking a five-year degree in medicine.

Bill Rammell: Mature students have the same access to financial support for the undergraduate degree in medicine as do younger students. If entering higher education in 200506, they could be eligible during the first four years of the course for tuition fee support, the Higher Education Grant, a student maintenance loan and any more specialised grant like the child care grant (which in fact is mainly received by mature students). Currently the only restrictions on funding for eligible students are on tuition fees if a student has previous study and on the maintenance loan if a student is aged over 55 (or 50 if not going into work subsequently). From 200607 there will be no age limit applied to the fee loan and the age limit on maintenance loans will be increased to age 60. The Department of Health pay tuition fees and provide bursaries in the fifth and any subsequent year of the course.

Student Finance

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the exclusion of graduate students from tuition fee deferment on the graduate student population's (a) ethnic diversity and (b) diversity of financial background.

Bill Rammell: The HE Act 2004 does not change the funding position of post-graduate students. Tuition fees for post-graduate courses remain unregulated, with students paying their own fees or receiving research council awards.
	A Race Impact Assessment was carried out and equality issues were considered in the policy development of variable fees in relation to full-time undergraduate students. No separate assessment was made for part-time or post-graduate students as fees for these students were already unregulated.
	The new arrangements, including extra financial support, for undergraduates should increase and broaden participation at that level and feed through over time into extra demand for postgraduate study including among students who might not otherwise have entered HE at all.

HOME DEPARTMENT

ASBOs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in North Yorkshire in each of the last three years.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the table.
	
		Number of ASBOs issued at all courts in the North Yorkshire criminal justice system area, as notified to the Home Office, by period
		
			 Period Number issued 
		
		
			 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002 0 
			 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003 8 
			 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 22 
			 Total 30

Bruche Police Training Centre

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what value was placed on the land and buildings at Bruche Police Training Centre prior to their transfer to Centrex.

Hazel Blears: The Bruche site and buildings were transferred to Centrex at the written down value in the Home Office accounts according to the practice defined by HM Treasury for asset transfers between government entities. The written down value on 1 April 2002 was 3 million.

Bruche Police Training Centre

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have been held with Centrex about the future use of the site of the police training centre at Bruche.

Hazel Blears: Discussions have taken place between officials and Centrex about planning for options for disposal. Any substantive options around future use of the site will depend on who is interested in purchasing the site.

Compact Mediation Scheme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of the compact mediation scheme in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many complaints it received in each year.

Charles Clarke: The costs for the mediation scheme have been:
	April 2005 to date: 250 for administering the scheme. The contract running from April 2005 and April 2006 has been agreed on a call off basis for each case of mediation. There was one case that went to mediation. This also resulted in costs of 1,000 shared between the parties concerned.
	April 2004 to April 2005: 10,000. This was a flat rate for administration of the scheme for the year.
	January 2003 to April 2004: 15,000 flat rate for administration of the scheme. There was one case that went to mediation, attracting additional costs of 2,000 for the parties concerned.
	The number of complaints or inquiries dealt with averaged at around 25 each year. Precise figures have not been kept.

Compact Mediation Scheme

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the aims are of the compact mediation scheme.

Charles Clarke: The compact mediation scheme is independent service which aims to resolve disputes between voluntary and community sector and government bodies. Through the scheme neutral advisors are available to mediate between the parties.

Consultants

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many consultants are employed by his Department to advise on (a) police force numbers and (b) the reorganisation of police authorities.

Hazel Blears: No consultants are employed by the Home Office to advise on police force numbers or on the reorganisation of police authorities.

Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on current levels of (a) violent crime, (b) car crime, (c) sexual crime, (d) burglary and (e) robbery in Southend, West constituency.

Hazel Blears: The Southend, West constituency comes within the Southend basic command unit. The current levels of recorded offences for the crimes requested are given in the table.
	
		Recorded crimes in the Southend crime and disorder reduction partnership area: 200405
		
			 Offence type Number 
		
		
			 Violent against the person 3,318 
			 Sexual offences(15) 200 
			 Robbery 296 
			 Violent crime 3,814 
			 Domestic burglary 913 
			 Vehicle crime 2,022 
		
	
	(15)The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences.

Crime

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on current detection rates of (a) violent crime, (b) car crime, (c) sexual crime, (d) burglary and (e) robbery in Southend, West constituency.

Hazel Blears: The Southend, West constituency comes within the Southend basic command unit. The detection rates for the crimes requested are given in the following table.
	
		Detection rates in the Southend crime and disorder reduction partnership area: 200405
		
			 Offence type Percentage detected 
		
		
			 Violent against the person 60 
			 Sexual offences 37 
			 Robbery 26 
			 Violent crime 56 
			 Domestic burglary 17 
			 Vehicle crime 9

Crime

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State forthe Home Department if he will make a statement on (a) levels and (b) detection rates of (i) violent crime, (ii) sexual crime, (iii) car crime, (iv) robbery and (v) burglary in the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency.

Hazel Blears: The Hornsey and Wood Green constituency comes within the Haringey basic command unit. The levels of recorded offences and detection rates for the crimes requested are given in the tables.
	
		Recorded crimes in the Haringey basic command unit200405
		
			 Offence type Number of offences 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 6,326 
			 Sexual offences(16) 423 
			 Robbery 1,430 
			 Violent crime 8,179 
			 Domestic burglary 3,184 
			 Vehicle crime 4,996 
		
	
	(16)The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences.
	
		Detection rates in the Haringey basic command unit200405
		
			 Offence type Percentage detected 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 46 
			 Sexual offences(17) 38 
			 Robbery 15 
			 Violent crime 40 
			 Domestic burglary 16 
			 Vehicle crime 4 
		
	
	(17)The Sexual Offences Act 2003, introduced in May 2004, altered the definition and coverage of sexual offences.

Criminal Courts

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the recommendation regarding disclosure made by Lord Justice Auld in his review of the criminal courts report has been implemented.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government's response to SirRobin Auld's recommendations, including those on disclosure, is set out in the Annex to the Criminal Justice White Paper: Justice for All (CM 5563) issued in July 2002. In large part the recommendations on disclosure were accepted and implemented in the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the relevant provisions of which came into force on four April 2005. The recommendation that the Government consider setting up a new statutory scheme for third party disclosure remains under consideration. Owing to its wide ranging and complex nature, an interdepartmental working party has been established to take forward this recommendation.

Drugs

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the value of the illegal drugs trade in 200405, broken down by (a) London borough and (b) police authority; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 13 October 2005
	The Home Office does not estimate the value of the illegal drugs trade at a local level. We do, however, estimate the overall size of the market for illicit drugs on a national basis. In 2001, the Home Office published an estimate of the size of the market for illicit drugs in the UK which amounted to around 6.6 billion in 1998. Full details of this study (Occasional Paper 74) are available to download at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/drugs1.html.

Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of progress towards the target of halving drug use, stated in Tackling Drugs to build a Better Britain.

Paul Goggins: The Comprehensive Spending Review, published in July 1998, included targets that reflected the aims set out in Tackling Drugs to build a Better Britain. These targets were revised in subsequent Spending Reviews to reflect the developing evidence base and provide a clear focus on delivery and outcomes.
	My department reports on performance against targets in its autumn and annual reports, copies of which are available in the House Library and on the Home Office website www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Emergency Calls

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of 999 calls received in London were considered unnecessary in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The requested information is not collected centrally in the police statistics.

Environmental Sustainability

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on his Department's Sustainable Development Strategy.

Charles Clarke: Officials have held meetings to discuss the content of the Home Office strategy and have drawn up a work schedule for publishing it by mid-December 2005.

General Almog

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department was informed of the issuing by Bow Street magistrates of an arrest warrant against General Almog.

Hazel Blears: The Department was informed on Monday 12 September 2005 that an arrest warrant had been issued on Saturday 10 September 2005.

Group 4

Doug Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by his Department and public bodies and agencies for which he is responsible on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in 200405; and if he will list (a) the nature and location of services provided and (b) the start and end dates of such contracts.

Charles Clarke: The total aggregate expenditure by the Department, its Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPB's) on security contracts directly with Group 4 Securicor during the financial year 200405 was 90,826,000. Details of thenature and location of the services provided and the start and end dates of the current contracts that the expenditure relates to are provided in the following table. Group 4 Securicor also provide services to the Youth Justice Board as an operating sub-contractor at Oakhill Secure Training Centre Milton Keynes. The contract is held by STC (Milton Keynes) Ltd. Contracts have also been placed with fully owned operating subsidiary companies of Group 4 Securicor. One is for the provision of security guards at PSDB from November 2003 until October 2006 and Securicor (now G4S Justice Services Ltd.) provided an approved overseas escort service for Immigration and Nationality Directorate during 200405.
	
		
			 Services provided Location Spend () Contract start date Contract end date 
		
		
			 HM Prison Parc Bridgend, South Wales 31,190,000 4 January 1996 3 January 2021 
			 Electronic Monitoring Northern 47,670,000 28 January 1999 30 April 2005 
			 Prisoner escorts Metropolitan area, London 11,966,000 27 June 1994 28 August 2004

Gypsies/Travellers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) documents and (b) guidance that his Department has published relating to Gypsies and Travellers since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 12 October 2005, Official Report, column 483W, detailing the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's publications on Gypsies and Travellers,

Jury Trial

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on consultation undertaken regarding the appropriateness of jury trial for all cases.

Charles Clarke: The Criminal Justice Act 2003 makes provision for trial by a judge sitting without a jury in serious or complex fraud cases, and in cases of jury tampering. Before that legislation was introduced, the White Paper Justice for All, published in July 2002, invited views on the proposal that it should be possible for a court to order non-jury trial in such circumstances. There has been no consultation about the appropriateness of jury trial in the generality of cases, since no further reform is contemplated.

Laptop Computers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many laptop computers have been used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen in that period; what the cost was of the use of laptops in that period; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: Information on the issue of laptop computers by year is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. Records on the issue and costs of laptops also date back only to 2001 when the Home Office took on Sirius (Fujitsu Alcedo Ltd.) as its service provider.
	Since 2001 only two laptops have been issued to Ministers and only six have been issued to special advisers. A total of 3,192 laptop computers have been issued to officials in the core Home Office. With regards to the loss and theft of laptop computers, in 1995 and 1996 no laptops were reported lost. In 1997 four were reported lost and in 1998 two were reported lost. Since 1998 no reports have been made for the loss of a laptop.
	On the number of laptops reported stolen there were seven reports in 1995, nine reports in 1996 and 1997, one report in 1998, three in 1999 and 18 in 2000. Between the end of 2000 and 2003 there were 39 thefts of laptops reported and since 2003 there have been a further 19 thefts reported.
	The costs of laptops used since 2001 are as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 1 April 2001 283,152.85 
			 1 April 2002 150,029.22 
			 1 April 2003 216,672.21 
			 1 April 2004 168,111.83 
			 1 April 2005 283,671.23

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's total spending on management consultants has been in each of the last three years.

Charles Clarke: The information available for the financial year 200405 from the interrogation of the Adelphi Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system accounts payable module indicates the cost of external consultants to the department was 46.9 million.
	The information available for the financial year 200304 from interrogation of the Business and Accounting Strategic System (BASS), indicates that the cost of external consultants to the department in 200304 was 106.8 million.
	We do not hold information on the Department's total expenditure on management consultants for 200203 and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	The Department awards contracts in open competition according to the EU procurement regulations, based on best value for money. The use of external consultants in the Home Office provides the Department with specialist knowledge, skill, capacity and technical expertise that is not otherwise available in house.

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of Statefor the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total expenditure saved in each of the last three years as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies within his Department.

Charles Clarke: My Department does not hold information in a form that would enable this question to be answered without incurring disproportionate cost

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the tariff range of sentence for those convicted under (a) section 18 and (b) section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 is;
	(2)  what the average sentence given for people convicted under (a) section 18 and (b) section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 was in each year since 2000 in (i) Essex and (ii) England.

Fiona Mactaggart: The maximum sentence under Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 is life imprisonment and under Section 20, five years. The following table shows the average custodial sentence length imposed for these offences (excluding those sentenced to life imprisonment) in both Essex and England for the years 2000 to 2003. Statistics for 2004 are due for publication in the autumn of 2005.
	
		Average sentence (in months) given for people convicted under Section 18 and under Section 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 in Essex and in England, 20002003(18)
		
			  Section 18 offences Section 20 offences 
			  Essex(19) England(19) Essex(20) England(20) 
		
		
			 2000 46.7 45.0 17.4 15.7 
			 2001 54.3 48.4 19.9 16.2 
			 2002 51.6 47.3 17.5 17.3 
			 2003 67.6 50.7 19.3 17.8 
		
	
	(18)Excludes those sentenced to life imprisonment.
	(19)Tariff range (maximum): life imprisonment.
	(20)Tariff range (maximum): 5 years imprisonment.

Olympic Games

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the implications are of the award of the 2012 Olympic games to London for the (a) workload and (b) staffing levels of his Department.

Charles Clarke: The Home Secretary is responsible for overseeing the security preparations for the 2012 Olympic games. This task will be taken forward as a high priority and the appropriate level of staffing and other resources will be allocated to the task. It is not possible to be more specific at this early stage.

Prison Sentences

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prison sentences handed down in (a) 1992, (b) 1997, (c) 2001 and (d) 2004 were for (i) six months or less, (ii) three months or less and (iii) five weeks or less; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The proportion of prison sentences handed down in (a) 1992,(b) 1997, (c) 2001 and (d) 2003, for (i) six months or less, (ii) three months or less and (iii) five weeks or less, is shown in the following table.
	
		Proportion of those sentenced to custody given sentence lengths in specific ranges, 19922003 England and Wales -- Percentage
		
			 Sentence band 1992 1997 2001 2003 
		
		
			 Six months or less 55.6 61.0 65.8 65.2 
			 Three months or less 33.5 37.4 38.5 37.9 
			 Five weeks or less 11.0 11.3 12.8 13.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The shorter sentence length groups are subsets of the longer sentence groups. For example, in 2003 the 13.2 per cent. who received a custodial sentence length of five weeks or less are included in the 37.9 per cent. who received a sentence of three months or less.
	2.The data for 2004 is unpublished and therefore not included. This data will be available from 27 October 2005.

Prisons

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been given by the prison service on the control, management and treatment of prisoners with severe personality disorders for which there is no medical treatment; and what financial arrangements exist to fund this aspect of prison management.

Fiona Mactaggart: The framework for the development of assessment and treatment services for dangerous offenders with severe personality disorders (the DSPD programme) in prison and NHS secure hospital settings, is set out in two planning and delivery guides. These guides, collectively, cover high and medium secure services, as well as community services. They have been developed in consultation with the staff involved in delivering these pilot intervention programmes and are readily available to staff, prisoners or patients, and their representatives.
	The prison element of this programme is funded by dedicated funds from the Home Office.

Proceeds of Crime

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total amount of criminal assets recovered in (a) Northumbria and (b) England and Wales was in each year since the initiative to recover such assets was put in place.

Hazel Blears: Information is not available in the form requested. The total value of assets recovered by all agencies under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and earlier legislation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was 54.5 million in 200304 and 84.4 million in 200405. The total value of cash forfeiture orders and confiscation orders obtained by Northumbria police was 691,770 in 200304 and 909,645 in 200405.

Proceeds of Crime

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been seized as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in each year since its commencement, broken down by (a) constituency, (b) London borough and (c) police authority; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 13 October 2005
	Information is not available in the form requested. The total value of assets recovered by all agencies under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and earlier legislation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland was 54.5 million in 200304 and 84.4 million in 200405. The total value of cash forfeiture orders and confiscation orders obtained by each police force in England and Wales in 200304 and 200405 is set out in the table. Information for 200506 is still being validated. Assets recovered in a year do not necessarily relate to orders obtained in the same year.
	
		Total value of cash forfeitures and confiscation orders obtained by police forces in England and Wales -- 
		
			 Force 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset constabulary 594,347.00 1,959,930.23 
			 Bedfordshire police 3,392,094.53 154,828.69 
			 British Transport police 156,471.60 281,376.94 
			 Cambridgeshire constabulary 278,679.84 2,695,434.41 
			 Cheshire constabulary 250,263.36 541,557.19 
			 City of London police 1,200,282.09 2,211,123.08 
			 Cleveland police 19,140.04 230,220.07 
			 Cumbria constabulary 120,917.41 1,124,156.05 
			 Derbyshire constabulary 71,140.10 2,540,453.70 
			 Devon and Cornwall constabulary 192,616.60 1,182,881.95 
			 Dorset police 147,532.10 1,050,401.06 
			 Durham constabulary 235,600.50 477,399.45 
			 Dyfed-Powys police 121,750.34 201,061.20 
			 Essex police 0.00 192,804.57 
			 Gloucestershire constabulary 930,442.19 390,469.23 
			 Greater Manchester police 2,798,966.37 3,453,431.70 
			 Gwent police 52,140.42 442,673.90 
			 Hampshire constabulary 298,447.77 333,792.86 
			 Hertfordshire constabulary 929,368.00 440,353.93 
			 Humberside police 826,661.75 255,656.67 
			 Kent police 1,210,503.91 1,926,936.62 
			 Lancashire constabulary 120,953.30 3,743,146.94 
			 Leicestershire constabulary 1,087,417.48 891,588.29 
			 Lincolnshire police 143,411.38 307,912.23 
			 Merseyside police 1,217,852.89 2,908,711.21 
			 Metropolitan police service 5,950,410.55 26,426,648.39 
			 National Crime Squad 5,991,570.46 11,940,373.79 
			 Norfolk constabulary 89,325.89 911,868.06 
			 North Wales police 89,522.03 109,758.12 
			 North Yorkshire police 0.00 205,081.94 
			 Northamptonshire police 556,066.08 1,063,417.47 
			 Northumbria police 691,770.20 909,645.62 
			 Nottinghamshire police 875,434.60 1,336,612.41 
			 South Wales police 75,637.44 400,577.52 
			 South Yorkshire police 784,579.88 1,330,077.48 
			 Staffordshire police 373,784.34 260,405.82 
			 Suffolk constabulary 137,649.75 430,715.69 
			 Surrey police 1,480,550.62 648,947.84 
			 Sussex police 652,221.26 1,002,181.72 
			 Thames Valley police 1,182,132.20 750,663.61 
			 Warwickshire police 83,116.50 57,357.29 
			 West Mercia constabulary 1,180,461.28 999,467.06 
			 West Midlands police 819,117.30 2,053,433.63 
			 West Yorkshire police 2,874,164.65 2,265,457.57 
			 Wiltshire constabulary 39,848.45 482,559.71 
			 Total 40,324,364.45 83,523,552.91

Rape

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) investigations into and (b) successful prosecutions for rape in London there were in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: Data on the number of investigations is not centrally collected. The number of offenders found guilty at all courts for rape in London between 1997 and 2003 are contained in the following table.
	Statistics for 2004 will be available in the autumn.
	
		Offenders found guilty at all courts for rape in London(21) 1997 to 2003(22)(5508160023)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 116 
			 1998 111 
			 1999 103 
			 2000 112 
			 2001 89 
			 2002 119 
			 2003 132 
		
	
	(21)Includes Metropolitan Police and City of London police force areas.
	(22)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(23)Rape includes: rape of a female and male.
	Source:
	RDSOffice for Criminal Justice Reform, Home Office.

Russell Commission

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of the Russell Commission report; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The cost of producing the Russell Commission report was 330,051. This includes communication costs, consultation exercises and events, the writing and printing of the report, launch activity and the management of the Commission's Youth Advisory Board.
	The Russell Commission reported in March 2005 with a headline recommendation of the creation of a dedicated implementation body, which will take the lead in delivering a new framework for youth action and engagement. The Home Office Active Communities Directorate has created a small implementation team totake forward the Commission's recommendations. This team will work closely with other Government Departments, the private sector and voluntary sector on a number of activities between now and March 2006, at which point the dedicated implementation body will be launched.

Sexual Offences

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to tackle sexual offences.

Paul Goggins: The Government give high priority to tackling sexual offending because of the nature and extent of the harm caused to victims.
	We have improved the care available to victims by extending and developing the network of sexual assault referral centres and supporting complementary community-based services for the victims of sexual crime, allocating 4 million from the victims fund over 200405 and 200506 for this purpose.
	Building on what is known to be effective in meeting the needs of victims of sexual violence, the Department of Health and the Home Office are working together on a programme aimed at equipping health care services and professionals to identify and respond more effectively to victims of sexual and domestic violence and abuse by mapping existing services and developing national service guidelines.
	We are committed to bringing more sexual offenders to justice. The Sexual Offences Act 2003 redefined and increased the penalties for many sexual offences and clarified the law on consent. We are encouraging more victims to report sexual crime and specially trained police officers and prosecutors have been established to deal with rape cases. At court, we have introduced a range of measures to facilitate the giving of evidence by victims.
	The Government are particularly determined to ensure abuse of children is tackled rigorously and works with the police and other agencies, including those working in the internet industry, to develop policies and practice to minimise the risk of children being sexually abused. We are also establishing a new centre which will target paedophiles using the internet to distribute illegal images of children and to groom them.
	Following the Bichard enquiry, wide-ranging action has been implemented, including developing consistent standards and working practices between police services, requiring much more effective joined-up working between different agencies and establishing training for head teachers and governors to help them screen out people applying for jobs working with children who may pose a risk.
	We have developed the way that the police, probation service and others work together to ensure that decisions about managing known sex offenders are based on the best information available. In addition, there are also tighter requirements for known sex offenders to notify their whereabouts to the police and any plans they have to travel abroad. Based on evidence about what really works in reducing offending, intensive programmes are being run both in prison and the community (for sex offenders).

Terrorism

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases suspects detained under the Terrorism Act 2000 (Schedule 8 as amended by section 306 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) have been released due to there being insufficient time to analyse (a) computer hard drives and (b) telephone records.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office does not hold details of individual cases. This information would only be held by individual police forces.

Terrorism

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) detained, (b) released and (c) charged within the first seven days of arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 (Schedule 8, as amended by section 306 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) broken down by (i) year, (ii) gender, (iii) ethnicity and (iv) religion.

Charles Clarke: The maximum period of detention pre-charge was extended to 14 days with effect from 20 January 2004. From that date to 4 September 2005 357 people were arrested, 321 of these were charged, released or otherwise dealt with within seven days. More detailed information is not held centrally.

Terrorism

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases suspects detained under the Terrorism Act 2000 (Schedule 8, as amended by section 306 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) have been released due to there being insufficient time to decrypt heavily-encrypted computer data.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office does not hold details of individual cases, the information would only be held by individual police forces.

Terrorism

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained for more than seven days under the Terrorism Act 2000 (Schedule 8, as amended by section 306 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003).

Charles Clarke: The maximum period of detention pre-charge was extended to 14 days with effect from 20 January 2004. Between 20 January 2004 and 4 September 2005, 357 people were arrested of whom 36 have been held for in excess of seven days.

Terrorism

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on the likely impact of the draft Terrorism Bill on civil liberties; and what response he has made.

Hazel Blears: Since the draft clauses of Terrorism Bill were published on 15 September a number of individuals and organisations have written to my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary. My right hon. Friend has signed a statement under Section 19(A) of the Human Rights Act 1998 stating that in his opinion the Terrorism Bill is compatible with the Convention rights.

Terrorism

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department undertook in relation to the draft Terrorism Bill on the merits of extending the period permissible before charge to allow more time to analyse documentation.

Hazel Blears: We have consulted extensively with the police, Crown Prosecution Service and security and intelligence agencies. On 6 October, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, published a letter from the Metropolitan Police outlining the operational imperative for extending the maximum duration for which terrorist suspects could be detained.

Terrorism

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the HomeDepartment what assessment he has made of the compatibility of (a) sections one to three, (b) sections 17 and 18, (c) section 19 and (d) section 20 of the draft Terrorism Bill with the European Convention of Human Rights.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary, has signed a statement under Section 19(A) of the Human Rights Act 1998 stating that in his opinion the Terrorism Bill is compatible with the Convention rights.

Terrorism

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests, (b) charges and (c) convictions were made for terrorist-related offences after a warrant had been executed under (i) the Terrorism Act 2000 and (ii) the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

Charles Clarke: Details of arrests under the Terrorism Act 2000 are published on the Home Office website www.homeoffice.gov.uk/security/terrorism-and-the-law/terrorism-act/. There are no arrest powers under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. To answer the other parts of the question would require details of individual cases which are not held by the Home Office.

Timber

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the refurbishment projects that (a) are in progress and (b) that will start in the next six months; what action is being taken to ensure that these will procure timber from legal and sustainable sources; and whether guidance will be issued to contractors on each of these projects to ensure that the timber used on site during refurbishment also comes from legal and sustainable sources.

Charles Clarke: The Department's Refurbishment projects are listed in the following tables.
	The Home Office uses a standard timber procurement contract clause when tendering for construction and refurbishment projects. This stipulates that timber used in those projects must be from legal and sustainable sources. This includes timber used in performing the contracts.
	
		Refurbishment projects currently in progress over 1 million in value(24)
		
			 Agency/Area Project Details 
		
		
			 IND Lunar House Restack 
			 UKPS Liverpool Relocation 
			 IPCC 3 Regional Offices 
			 Home Office 1 Besborough Gardens 
			 NPD Humberside Probation Area 
			 NPD Nottinghamshire NPS 
			 NPD Peninsula House Suffolk 
			 HMPS CanterburyVisits/Education 
			 HMPS DartmoorElectrical Upgrade 
			 HMPS DownviewMulti Purpose Building 
			 HMPS EverthorpeAncillary Works 
			 HMPS EverthorpeHouseblock Enabling Works 
			 HMPS GartreeB Wing Modernisation 
			 HMPS Highdown Rewire 
			 HMPS HollowayReplace Cell Windows 
			 HMPS LeedsUpgrade Electrical Infrastructure 
			 HMPS MaidstoneUpgrade Perimeter Security 
			 HMPS National Privacy Screen Programme 
			 HMPS NorwichHealth Care Unit 
			 HMPS PentonvilleElectrical Infrastructure Upgrade 
			 HMPS PortlandRefurb of E-Hall, Raleigh, Drake and  Benbow W Wings 
			 HMPS PrestonRe-Roof and C Wing 
			 HMPS SwanseaD Wing Replace Stone Cladding 
			 HMPS WakefieldA Wing and Programme Units 
			 HMPS WandsworthCPIG 
			 HMPS WandsworthIn-Cell Electrics 
			 HMPS WealstunReplace Accommodation Blocks 
			 HMPS WellingboroughExternal Works and New Kitchen 
			 HMPS WymottAncillaries to House Block 
			 HMYOI OnleyPhase Two Upgrade 
			 HMYOI Swinfen Hall Ancillaries 
		
	
	(24)Information based on a reporting date of 31 July 2005
	
		HMPS Refurbishment projects in progress less than 1 million in value
		
			 HMPS Establishment  Project Details 
		
		
			 All High Security Replace BiometricsOn Site 
			 Blundeston Re-RoofingOn Site 
			 Brockhill National Gate Security UpgradeOn Site 
			 Castington Re-RoofingOn Site 
			 Castington Substance Misuse UnitProcurement 
			 Channings Wood Re-RoofingOn Site 
			 Channings Wood Upgarde PIDSOn Site 
			 Chelmsford Re-RoofingOn Site 
			 Dover Circulation Road and Casements Stability  RepairsOn Site 
			 Downview Re-Roof A and B Wings, Laundry, Education and  RAPT BuildingOn Site 
			 Edmunds Hill RTU AncillariesPH TwoOn Site 
			 Everthorpe Temporary KitchenOn Site 
			 Feltham Replace GeneratorsOn Site 
			 Foston Hall CPIGOn Site 
			 Frankland Approach AlarmsOn Site 
			 Frankland Re-RoofingPhase OneLet 
			 Gloucester Replace General Alarm SystemOn Site 
			 Headquarters Lift Refurbishment Abell And ClelandDesign 
			 High Down ReRoof Gatelodge and Rainwater GoodsOn  Site 
			 Hollesley Bay In Cell ElectricsOn Site 
			 Holloway Replace GeneratorsOn Site 
			 Holme House Repairs to Perimeter WallOn Site 
			 Leicester In Cell ElectricsOn Site 
			 Leyhill Re-Roof Store, Chapel and Cit BuildingOn Site 
			 Lindholme Re-Roofing Lockstore and Works to Lockstore  OfficeOn Site 
			 Liverpool Re-Roof Main CentreOn Site 
			 Long Lartin Additional Anti Helicopter WiresOn Site 
			 Long Lartin Replace Water MainOn Site 
			 Maidstone Re-Roof Weald WingOn Site 
			 Morton Hall Connection to Mains SewageOn Site 
			 Onley Flooring and Decoration B, C. D and E WingsOn  Site 
			 Pentonville In Cell ElectricsD WingOn Site 
			 Portland Repair Cit and Officers Mess RoofsLet 
			 Ranby RTU Ancillaries Completion WorksOn Site 
			 Reading Emergency Legionella Precautions WorksDesign 
			 Shrewsbury Repairs to C Wing and Kitchen Block RoofsLet 
			 Stafford CPIGOn site 
			 Standford Hill Repair Roof Atrium to A and B WingsOn Site 
			 Swaleside Re-Roofing Phase TwoOn Site 
			 Swansea Re-Roof Admin BuildingOn Site 
			 Wetherby Substance Misuse UnitOn Site 
			 Whatton Replace General AlarmsOn Site 
			 Winchester In Cell Electrics and Cell Call SystemOn Site 
			 Wormwood Scrubs Perimeter WallOn Site 
		
	
	
		Refurbishment projects that will start in the next six months over 1 million in value(25)
		
			 Agency/Area Project Details 
		
		
			 IND Lunar House Lifts 
			 Centrex RytonAston/Graham En-Suites 
			 NPD Merseyside Probation Area 
			 NPD Reading Replacement 
			 HMPS BirminghamDecentralise Boiler House 
			 HMPS BrockhillHealthcare and Detox 
			 HMPS Full SuttonPhase One Switchgear and Boilers 
			 HMPS Liverpool Health Care Unit 
			 HMPS LincolnA Wing Refurbishment 
		
	
	(25)Information based on a reporting date of 31 July 2005
	
		Refurbishment projects that will start in the next six months under 1 million in value(26)
		
			 HMPS Establishment  Project Details 
		
		
			 Acklington Replace Cell Call SystemDesign 
			 Brinsford Substance Misuse UnitDesign 
			 Bristol Re-Roof D WingDesign 
			 Canterbury Replace Roof to Multi-Skills, Chapel and CES  Design 
			 Channings Wood Replace Kitchen FlooringDesign 
			 Edmunds Hill Re-Role Female to Cat C MaleDesign 
			 Exeter Replacement Water MainLet 
			 Featherstone Renew Cold Water Supply NetworkDesign 
			 Feltham Substance Misuse UnitDesign 
			 Glen Parva Catering Academy Development Option A Main  Kitchen onlyProcurement 
			 Gloucester Re-Roof Works DepartmentDesign 
			 Guys Marsh Re-Roof Shared Services BuildingDesign 
			 Guys Marsh Sewer Requisition and Repairs to Existing  DrainageProcurement 
			 Guys Marsh National Gate Security UpgradeLet 
			 Guys Marsh Upgrade Electrical SupplyDesign 
			 Guys Marsh Mezzanine Floor to New WorkshipDesign 
			 Hewell Grange Silage and Manure StoreProcurement 
			 Hindley Substance Misuse UnitProcurement 
			 Huntercombe Substance Misuse UnitDesign 
			 Kirkham Ductile Gas mainDesign 
			 Kirklevington Replace GeneratorDesign 
			 Lancaster A Wing Roof Repairs QMU and BOV Roofs  Design 
			 Lancaster Farms Substance Misuse UnitProcurement 
			 Leeds Renew Fire MainDesign 
			 Liverpool Remedial Work to H Wing ShowersDesign 
			 Liverpool National Gate Security UpgradeProcurement 
			 Long Lartin Upgrade Night Sanitation SystemDesign 
			 Long Lartin CPIG Fire RequirementsDesign 
			 Low Newton Re-RoofingA, B and HCCProcurement 
			 Mount Remedial Works to Existing Surface Water  Balancing PondDesign 
			 Northallerton Replace General AlarmsLet 
			 Onley Re-Role WorksDesign 
			 Preston Replace Emergency GeneratorDesign 
			 Preston HES2 Additional WorksDesign 
			 Stoke Heath Substance Misuse UnitDesign 
			 Sudbury Replace Water Tanks and Potable Water  CisternsDesign 
			 Warren Hill Substance Misuse UnitDesign 
			 Warren Hill Standby GeneratorProcurement 
			 Wayland Re-RoofingProcurement 
			 Werrington Substance Misuse UnitDesign 
			 Winchester Separate EntrancesDesign 
			 Winchester Re-Roof Officers Mess/Guymer UnitDesign 
		
	
	(26)Information based on a reporting date of 31 July 2005

Watermark Project

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the sites in his Department which are included in the Watermark project.

Charles Clarke: The Watermark Project was drawn to a conclusion over two years ago. The Prison Service joined the scheme in 2000 and were followed a year later by a further 27 key sites on the Home Office estate, comprising 62 per cent. of the core Home Office estate. The sites that participated between 2000 and 2003 are listed as follows.
	Abell House
	Apollo House
	Bedford Point
	Cleland House
	Clive House
	Crown House
	Emergency Planning College, Hawskhills
	Forensic Science Service, Chepstow
	Forensic Science Service, Huntingdon
	Forensic Science Service Priory House, Birmingham
	Forensic Science Service, Wetherby
	Grenadier House
	Home Office Scientific and Development Branch Langhurst and Sandridge
	Horseferry House
	Immigration Service Status Park one, two, three and four
	Lunar House
	National Police Training Centre, Ashford
	National Police Training Centre, Bruche
	National Police Training Centre, Cwmbran
	National Police Training Centre, Harrogate
	National Police Training Centre Ryton, Coventry
	Olympia House, Newport
	Queen Anne's Gate
	Quest House
	Whitgift Centre, Blocks A, B, C, E
	Her Majesty's Prisons
	Acklington/Castington
	Albany
	Askham Grange
	Ashwell
	Bedford
	Blakenhurst
	Belmarsh
	Birmingham
	Blantyre House
	Blundeston
	Bristol
	Brixton
	Buckley Hall
	Bullingdon
	Bullwood Hall
	Camphill
	Canterbury
	Cardiff
	Charming Wood
	Chelmsford
	Coldingley
	Cookham Wood
	Dartmoor
	Doncaster
	Dorchester
	Downview
	Durham
	East Sutton Park
	Eastwood Park
	Erlestoke
	Everthorpe
	Featherstone
	Feltham
	Ford
	Foston Hall
	Frankland
	Full Sutton
	Garth
	Gartree
	Gloucester
	Kirkham
	Kirklevington Grange
	Lancaster
	Latchmere House
	Leeds
	Leicester
	Lewes
	Leyhill
	Lowdham Grange
	Maidstone
	Manchester
	Moorland
	Morton Hall
	New Hall
	North Sea Camp
	Norwich
	Nottingham
	Parc
	Parkhurst
	Pentonville
	Portland
	Portsmouth Kingston
	Prescoed
	Preston
	Ranby
	Risley
	Rochester
	Send
	Shepton Mallet
	Shrewsbury
	Stafford
	Standford Hill
	Styal
	Sudbury
	Swaleside/Elmley
	Swansea
	The Mount
	The Verne Portland
	Usk
	Wakefield

West Mercia Police

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much West Mercia police has received from his Department's rural policing fund.

Hazel Blears: West Mercia police authority has received a total of 12.8 million from the rural policing fund since its introduction in 200001.

Wheel Clamping

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the regulation and licensing of the wheel clamping industry.

Hazel Blears: When the vehicle immobiliser (wheel-clamper) regulations were implemented on 3 May 2005, the Home Office and the SIA ensured they were consistent with the recommendations of the better regulation taskforce, in that they were proportionate, accountable, consistent, transparent and targeted.
	As at 5 October 2005, 3,303 application forms for vehicle immobiliser licences have been requested from the SIA. 1,700 individuals have successfully completed the required training and are registered on the SIA's qualification database (QDB). 1,135 applications have been submitted and accepted for processing, 940 licences have been issued, and 75 have been refused.

Young Offenders

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the merits of promoting sporting participation as a way of reducing crime among young offenders; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Sport based activities are one of the key interventions delivered through the Youth Inclusion Programmes and Positive Activities for Young People and are part of the Government's wide package of measures to target and steer young people most at risk of crime and reduce their re-offending. Sport is also an important part of the Youth Justice Board's Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme. Evaluation shows this as one of the elements that is the most effective at reducing reoffending.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Stationery

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of (a) copying paper and (b) paper for printed publications used by the Department in (i) 200304 and (ii) 200405 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained.

James Purnell: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) 200304100 per cent.; 200405100 per cent.
	(b) All the Department's printed materials during 200304 and 200405 were produced on Revive Silk or Revive Matt. Revive Silk contains 75 per cent. de ink post consumer waste, the balance being mill waste. Revive matt contains 100 per cent. de ink post consumer waste. Both papers exceed the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Departmental Stationery

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she has put in place to ensure that her Department meets the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content; and by what date this target will be achieved.

James Purnell: The Department has been procuring 100 per cent. recycled paper since 1997, this is in line with DEFRA's targets. Paper purchased conforms with ISO 14001 which is 100 per cent. post consumer re-cycled content.

Departmental Stationery

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she has put in place to ensure that her Department meets the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste; and by what date this target will be achieved.

James Purnell: The Department for Culture Media and Sport exceeds the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as the paper it uses for its printed publications contains a minimum of 75 per cent. de-ink post-consumer waste, the balance being mill waste.

Departmental Stationery

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports; in each case stating (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the recycled and post-consumer recycled content of each paper.

James Purnell: The information is as follows:
	(a) Evolve supplied by Howard Smith Ltd.
	(b) Astron (MP jackets)
	Howard Smith Ltd. (paper)
	Lyreco (miscellaneous stationery)
	Banner Business (Government folders)
	(c) Lyreco
	(d) Howard Smith Ltd. (one paper used only)
	(i) Evolve copier paper
	(ii) 100 per cent.

Digital Television

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have switched from analogue to digital television services in each year since 1999.

James Purnell: Great progress has been made. 63 per cent. of households are now estimated to have digital television.
	Please visit the Ofcom website (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/cm/cm05/tv.pdf) for digital penetration in each year since 1999.

Gambling Act

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the timetable is for the publication of (a) secondary legislation and (b) guidance in relation to the Gambling Act 2005.

Richard Caborn: We plan to bring the Gambling Act 2005 fully into force with effect from September 2007.
	The first two commencement orders were made at the end of August 2005. These brought into force on 1 October 2005 the provisions of the Act formally creating the Gambling Commission; and, giving effect to parliamentary commitments to abolish the 24-hour membership rule in respect of casino and bingo halls, and to increase the number of jackpot machines allowed in a casino to 20.
	My Department has been considering the remaining subordinate legislation needed to complete the process of implementation and the timetable for that legislation. We propose to publish details shortly.
	It is the responsibility of the Gambling Commission to issue guidance to licensing authorities. The commission plan to consult on its draft guidance in December 2005 and issue final guidance from May 2006.

Gambling Act

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government have to change the number of (a) small, (b) large and (c) regional casino licences to be allowed under the Gambling Act 2005.

Richard Caborn: The Gambling Act 2005 initially allows for one regional casino, eight large casinos and eight small casinos, and we are proceeding with the implementation of the Act on that basis.
	The Government have made it clear that it wishes to take a cautious approach to the development of new casinos until it has been possible fully to assess the impact of their introduction on problem gambling. We have not ruled out the possibility of asking Parliament in the future to agree to a larger number of regional casinos, if further evidence is needed for the purposes of making a more reliable assessment.

Gambling Act

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate (a) her Department, (b) the Gambling Commission and (c) the Gaming Board have made of the anticipated average floor size of the whole licensed premises, including non-gambling uses, of (i) small, (ii) large and (iii) regional casinos.

Richard Caborn: Under Section 7(5) of the Gambling Act 2005, the Secretary of State is required to make regulations by reference to which any casino may be classified as a regional, large or small casino. By virtue of Section 7(6)(d), these regulations may make provision by reference to the floor area used or designated for a specified purpose. In the Government's response to the first report of the joint committee on the draft Gambling Bill, we set out the minimum floor areas that would apply to the different categories of casino. This information is set out in the table. We have made no estimate of the likely average floor sizes of the new casinos.
	
		Square metres
		
			 Licence category Minimum table gaming area Minimum additional gambling area Minimum non-gambling area Minimum total customer area 
		
		
			 Small 500 0 250 750 
			 Large 1,000 0 500 1,500 
			 Regional 1,000 2,500 1,500 5,000

Gambling Act

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate the Government has made of the change in the number of adult gamingcentres as a consequence of the Gambling Act 2005;
	(2)  what changes the Government has made to controls on (a) the number, (b) the needs test for new premises and (c) maximum prizes allowed for adult gaming centres under its gambling reforms.

Richard Caborn: The Gambling Act 2005 creates a specific regulatory regime for adult gaming centres for the first time.
	This will clearly distinguish adult gaming centres, which children will be prohibited from entering, from other premises like seaside arcades (termed family entertainment centres in the Act) which children will be permitted to enter. Adult gaming centres will be subject to the full requirements for operating, premises and personal licences introduced by the new Act, and operators will need to comply with new requirements relating to social responsibility or risk losing their licence.
	No estimate has been made of the number of arcades likely to apply for adult gaming centre licences under the new Act. However, the Gambling Commission estimates that a total of 1,750 arcades will apply either for adult gaming centre licences or for family entertainment centre licences. A Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Gambling Act was published on 21 April 2005. It concluded that the gaming machine reforms in the Act would increase competition between adult gaming centres and other venues offering machine gambling, including casinos, bingo halls, licensed betting offices and members' clubs.
	Arcades are not subject to any control on numbers or a needs test under the existing legislation. Currently, all arcades are permitted to offer gaming machines with a maximum prize of 25. When the 2005 Act is implemented, adult gaming centres will additionally be able to offer up to four gaming machines with a maximum prize of 500.

Gambling Act

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role the English regional chambers will play in the allocation of casino licences under the Gambling Act 2005.

Richard Caborn: We have established an independent Casino Advisory Panel to advise the Secretary of State on the exercise of her powers under Section 175(4) of the Gambling Act 2005 to specify which local authorities may issue the new casino premises licences created by the Act.
	The Advisory Panel will invite the English regional chambers, in their role as regional planning bodies, to identify a list of broad locations for the one regional casino permitted by the Act, emerging from their work on the regional spatial strategies.

Licensing

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to return the responsibility for the issue of licences for the sale of alcoholic beverages to magistrates; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Government have no intention of returning responsibility for the issue of licences for the sale of alcohol to magistrates. Indeed, the 24 November marks the full implementation of the new licensing regime, including the transfer of the bulk of alcohol licensing matters to the licensing authorities.
	The new regime is an enhancement of the former arrangements providing elected councillors with the power to resolve disputes, taking into account the views of local residents and against a back drop where the licensing objectives on crime and disorder, nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm, are paramount consideration at all times.

Licensing

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received requesting a review of the proposed changes in the licensing laws; what response she has made; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: My Department has received many representations on this subject, both in favour of the changes introduced by the Licensing Act 2003, and requesting a review of the new framework.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are satisfied that the Act provides a balanced package of freedoms and safeguards which will bring considerable benefits. The Act integrates six existing licensing regimes into one. It creates a system that enables local communities to influence licensing decisions and provides a more effective range of sanctions to be used against badly run premises. And over time the changes will provide the law abiding majority with a more diverse choice about how they spend their leisure time.
	As with any major reform, the Government are committed to monitoring and evaluating the impact of the changes e.g. Sir Les Elton's Independent Fees Review Panel is about to publish it's interim findings, and following full implementation of the reforms on 24 November, there will be an early review of the statutory guidance in consultation with all stakeholders.

London Bombings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of the London bombings of 7 and 21 July 2005 on tourism in (a) London and (b) England; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: I met representatives of the London and UK tourism sector on 12 July and 6 October 2005. Ihave also received regular updates on work to assess the economic effects of the bombings, and on recovery work, through the VisitBritain-led Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group.
	The Group commissioned work from Oxford economic forecasting following 22 July 2005, the results of which project the financial effects of the bombings as follows:
	(a) the turnover of the London tourism industry is projected to be 500 million lower than previously expected; and
	(b) total tourism revenues across the UK are projected to be 750 million lower than previously expected (separate figures for England were not produced).
	Although there has been a downturn in domestic tourists visiting London, the visitor economy in both the UK and London is still expected to grow by the end of 2005. Overseas visitor arrivals are expected to grow by 6 per cent. in London with spending likely to increase by 8 per cent. with the United States market remaining particularly strong.
	My Department and its partner organisations in the private and public sectors continue to monitor the situation closely.

London Olympics

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what she estimates the additional levy on London council tax bills to fund the Olympics will be; and what the proposed (a) commencement date and (b) end date is.

Tessa Jowell: The Mayor has advised that he will raise up to 625 million towards investment in regeneration, infrastructure and facilities necessary to stage the Olympics through council tax, beginning in 200607. This is expected to raise 550 million within 10 years and a further 75 million within another two years, if required, and will equate to a 20 a year or 38p a week addition to B and D bills.

London Olympics

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the revenue to be generated each year from additional levy to be charged on London council tax bills to fund the Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: It is anticipated that London council tax would generate 55 million per year for 10 years, and, if required, a further 75 million over the subsequent two years, towards investment in regeneration, infrastructure and facilities necessary to stage the Olympics.

London Olympics

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the transport infrastructure needs associated with hosting the 2012 Olympic Games; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: In preparing the Olympic bid, London 2012 and Transport for London carried out detailed assessments of Olympic transport needs and capacity. The Government were fully involved in this process. Details of provision and proposals for Olympic transport infrastructure can be found in chapter 14 of the candidature file, which was presented to the International Olympic Committee in November 2004. This information can also be found at http://www.london2012.org/NR/rdonlyres/C27233BA-E6634FD8 8EC8-A7896B547EFD/0/Theme_14_transport.pdf

London Olympics

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for how many years the Olympics council tax supplement will be levied on London council tax bills; and what the estimated supplement is per capita for each year of operation.

Tessa Jowell: Under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London (Command Paper CM5867 laid before the House in June 2003) it is planned to raise up to 625 million towards investment in regeneration, infrastructure and facilities necessary to stage the Olympics through council tax, beginning in 200607. It is planned to raise 550 million within 10 years, and a further 75 million within another two years if required. This is expected to equate to a 20 a year or 38p a week addition to band D bills.

London Olympics

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much is planned to be raised from the Olympics council tax supplement on London council tax payers.

Tessa Jowell: It is planned that the London council tax will raise up to 625 million towards investment in regeneration, infrastructure and facilities necessary to stage the Olympics. This is part of the overall public funding package that is set out in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London (Command Paper CM5867 laid before the House in June 2003.)

London Olympics

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what weight will be given to the environmental record of prospective bidders in determining tenders for work in connection with the London Olympics 2012.

Tessa Jowell: The Procurement Principles, recently published by the interim Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), recognise the need to maximise the potential to improve the environment in East London and minimise adverse environmental impact of the Games and legacy development. The Procurement Strategy, currently being developed by the interim ODA, will specifically address this important issue.

London Olympics

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the 2012 Olympic Games on the Tooting constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring significant sporting, social and economic benefits to London and the whole of the UK. The Games will inspire a new generation to greater sporting activity and will leave a fantastic legacy of state-of-the-art sporting facilities in London. Tooting residents will experience the unique opportunity of having the world's greatest sporting event nearby and there will be a range of opportunities to get involved in the Games, whether as an athlete, spectator or volunteer. The people of Tooting will also share in the significant improvements to London's transport infrastructure and the community will have the opportunity to participate in the four-year cultural festival that will accompany the Games.

London Olympics

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport what commitments she has made in respect of Government funding to support delivery of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics games.

Tessa Jowell: The Government funding commitments remain as stated in the candidature file and as presented to the IOC in Singapore this July.

National Lottery

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the national lottery operator has paid to the National Lottery Commission in licence fees in each year since 1994.

Richard Caborn: Licence fees paid to the National Lottery Commission since 1994 are:
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 199495 110,000 
			 199596 260,000 
			 199697 340,000 
			 199798 400,000 
			 199899 380,000 
			 19992000 480,000 
			 200001 620,000 
			 200102 544,000 
			 200203 820,000 
			 200304 428,000 
			 200405 316,000

National Sports Foundation

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements have been put in place for (a) the For Sport Consortia, (b) the British Olympic Association and (c) other sports to receive funding from the National Sports Foundation.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 10 October 2005
	No arrangements are in place yet. Discussions on how National Sports Foundation funding will be distributed are ongoing and decisions will be taken in due course.

National Sports Foundation

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who will chair the National Sports Foundation; and what the senior management structure will be.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 10 October 2005
	Discussions on the structure of the National Sports Foundation are ongoing and decisions will be taken in due course.

Test Cricket

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will put cricket test matches on the A-list of sporting events.

James Purnell: No. Cricket test matches played in England are on the list of events which must be offered to the main free-to-air broadcasters, but only for secondary coverage such as highlights.
	The decision to end protection of full live coverage was made in 1998 in the light of the recommendations of the independent review undertaken by the advisory group chaired by Lord Gordon of Strathblane.
	Income from broadcasting forms 80 per cent. of cricket's income and the increased income since 1998 has allowed the ECB to invest substantial amounts in programmes for grass roots cricket and central contracts for England players, which have helped to contribute to the current success of the England team.
	However, this time round, if the ECB had been prevented from considering bids from subscription broadcasters, competition for the rights would have been very limited and the ECB have told me that this would have led to a loss in income of around 80 million, which would have been disastrous for the game.
	The Secretary of State has made it clear that the Government will need to review the list of protected events as digital television take-up increases and viewers have a wider range of options for watching sport. This will provide the opportunity to re-consider the listing of live test cricket. However, this will not affect the 200609 contract.

TV Licences

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will reduce the television licence fee for students sharing accommodation in halls of residence; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: In the BBC Charter Review Green Paper published in March this year, the Government indicated that it believes the current scope of television licence fee concessions is about right, but undertook to re-examine any anomalies in the existing concessionary arrangements. We shall announce our conclusions in a White Paper which we intend to publish towards the end of this year.

TV Licences

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much has been spent on advertising and promotion of television licences in each of the last five years for which records are available;
	(2)  what the cost of employing (a) enforcement officers and (b) detector vans to enforce non-payment of television licences was in the last year for which figures are available.

James Purnell: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has incurred no such expenditure. The BBC has responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day-to-day administration and enforcement under contract to the Corporation. I have therefore asked the BBC's Head of Revenue Management to consider the questions raised by the hon. Member and to write to him direct. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

TREASURY

Air Miles

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many air miles were accrued through ministerial travel in his Department in 200405, broken down by Minister; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (i) foregone and (ii) given to charity.

John Healey: The information on the number of air miles accrued and their application could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. Guidance for Ministers on the use of air miles is set out in the Ministerial Code. The guidance makes clear that air miles should be used only for official purposes or else foregone. However, if it is impracticable to use the benefits for Government travel, there is no objection to Ministers donating them to charity if this is permissible under the terms of the airline's scheme and the charity is one chosen by the airline.
	Similar rules are in place for officials.

Aviation Tax

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has examined the impact of (a) the aviation tax in the Netherlands and (b) aviation taxes elsewhere in his examination of the options for possible economic instruments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

John Healey: The Government are continuing to explore options for the use of economic instruments for tackling aviation's greenhouse gas emissions. As part of that process, the Government have noted the tax on domestic aviation fuel in the Netherlands, and the aviation taxes applied in other European member states and elsewhere.

Biofuels

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to vary levels of excise duty on biofuels.

John Healey: In line with the commitment given in the Alternative Fuels Framework to give a three-year rolling guarantee on duty rates for alternative fuels, Budget 2005 confirmed that the 20 pence per litre duty differentials for both biodiesel and bioethanol will continue until 200708, providing further certainty and stability for development.

Climate Change Levy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the level of the climate change levy.

John Healey: The Chancellor receives many representations covering a wide range of issues including the rates of the climate change levy. These are given due consideration in the Budget process.

Controlled Oil

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many registered dealers of controlled oil thereare in (a) the UK, (b) England and Wales and (c) Scotland;
	(2)  how many registered dealers of controlled oil have ceased trading since the start of the new HM Customs and Revenue scheme governing them;
	(3)  whether HM Revenue and Customs requires registered dealers of controlled oil to have IT systems specifically to deal with the scheme; and whether financial assistance is available for this expenditure;
	(4)  how much the new scheme to regulate registered dealers of controlled oil has cost to date; and what its forecast costs are in each of the next five years;
	(5)  what mechanisms are in place to monitor the effectiveness of the new scheme to control registered dealers of controlled oil.

John Healey: There are 4,723 registrations under the registered dealers in controlled oil (RDCO) scheme in the UK, of which 3,771 are in England and Wales, and 307 in Scotland. Since the start of the scheme, 398 dealers have ceased trading.
	Registered dealers in controlled oil must keep revenue records and accounts of controlled oil that they have received and supplied, and provide details to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) monthly. These records and accounts need not be held on a computer, and HMRC does not provide financial assistance to traders wishing to buy IT systems.
	The UK oils strategy, of which the RDCO scheme is an important part, received 95.9 million in funding at its launch, in April 2002, for the period 200203 to 200506. Of that figure, 341,000 was spent on the development of computer systems to handle RDCO data, but more detailed costs for the implementation and administration of the scheme are not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Forecast costs for future years are not available
	Analysis of RDCO returns allows HMRC to identify suspicious transactions without having to impose on traders more visits than necessary. HMRC also meets the legitimate trade to share intelligence on the oils market, including the effects of the RDCO scheme. As part of the wider oils strategy, the RDCO scheme has contributed significantly to the reduction in the UK market share held by illicit oils from 8 per cent. in 2000 to around 6 per cent. in 2003.

Financial Assistance Scheme

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has met the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions since May 2005 to discuss the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Ivan Lewis: The Chancellor meets the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the Government's welfare reform agenda.

Fiscal Deficit

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of fiscal deficit in the current financial year.

Gordon Brown: Following today's announcement by the Bank of England that Sir Andrew Large is to retire as Deputy Governor (Financial Stability), the Queen has been pleased to appoint, under the Bank of England Act 1998, Sir John Gieve to succeed him. This appointment will take effect in January 2006.
	Budget 2005 set out the Government's forecasts for the public finances up until 200910. These showed that the Government are meeting their strict fiscal rules over the economic cycle. Updated economic and fiscal projections will be provided in the pre- Budget report later this year.

National Insurance

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to aggregate earnings where people are doing more than one job and earning less than the lower earnings limit for national insurance contribution purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Each employment is treated separately for national insurance contributions purposes. The aggregation of the earnings of people doing more than one job who are earning below the lower earnings limit, would therefore be administratively extremely complex for employers.

NHS Trusts

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the NHS trusts which owe sums in respect of PAYE and national insurance contributions relating to August or earlier to HM Revenue and Customs, indicating the amount by which each of these trusts is in arrears.

Dawn Primarolo: For reasons of confidentiality Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are unable to comment on individual customers.

NHS Trusts

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total sum outstanding from NHS trusts to HM Revenue and Customs is in respect of PAYE and national insurance contributions deducted which relate to August or earlier.

Dawn Primarolo: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs monitors employers' performance at local level but does not collate information about particular categories of employer so the overall figures requested are not readily available.

Online Tax Collection

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what target time has been set by HM Revenue and Customs to process online tax returns for the main categories of taxpayers; and what the (a) average and (b) maximum time taken was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC do not have a specific target for processing online tax returns. For the vast majority of SA taxpayers who submit their returns online their return will be processed within 24 hours of them submitting it. However, on occasions (e.g. when maintenance work needs to be carried out on the system) this may extend to a few days. All SA taxpayers submitting their returns online get an electronic notification when their return has been received into the HMRC system. We do not hold information on the maximum time taken to process an online return.

Scottish Charity Title Unit

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what guidance his Department issues to the staff of the Scottish Charity Title Unit to assist them in determining whether a body can be deemed to be established for charitable purposes only; and whether this guidance is available to the public;
	(2)  what human resources his Department has allocated to the function of charity recognition in Scotland in each of the last five years, expressed as full-time equivalents and broken down by grade;
	(3)  what mechanism exists for (a) appeal and (b) review of applications that have been rejected by the Scottish Charity Title Unit; and how many such reviews have taken place in each of the last five years;
	(4)  how many applications for charity recognition the Scottish Charity Title Unit has received in each of the last five years; and how many of these (a) have been approved, (b) have been rejected and (c) are still pending;
	(5)  what the average length of time taken is from receipt of an initial set of documents by the Scottish Charity Title Unit in application for charity recognition to notification of approval or rejection; and how many applications are pending;
	(6)  what the most common reasons are for rejection of applications for charity recognition by HM Revenue and Customs Scottish Charity Title Unit.

Ivan Lewis: No formal guidance is issued to the staff of HM Revenue and Customs (Charities Title Group). Decisions on determining whether a body is charitable for tax purposes are made by reference to legal precedent and case law.
	Over the past five years a team of five staff have handled the recognition of charities in Scotland for tax purposes.
	Where HM Revenue and Customs determines that an applicant is not entitled to charitable tax reliefs, the applicants can appeal through the law courts. The outcome of any such appeal will form a legal precedent.
	It is not possible to determine the number of applications received, as the available data does not relate exclusively to applications for charitable status. Statistics on approvals and rejection are only available from January 2003 and are reproduced in the following table:
	
		Applications for charity recognition
		
			  Approved Rejected 
		
		
			 2003 1,038 102 
			 2004 1,122 123 
			 2005 (January to 12 October) 653 82 
		
	
	It would not be cost-effective to identify the number of applications pending.
	There are no statistics available for the average time taken from receipt of an application for recognition to notification of approval or rejection of that application. HM Revenue and Customs responds to first-time applications in an average of 27 days. In most cases additional information is required before a decision can be made on whether the application is approved or rejected. It is not possible to identify the total number of applications pending.
	If an application is rejected it will be because the objects as expressed, or the underlying activities are nor exclusively charitable and/or the application fails the public benefit test.

Self-Assessment Tax Returns

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average cost of administering a self-assessment tax return in the latest year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC's estimate of the cost of administering self-assessment is set out in the NAO report: Filing of Income Tax Self Assessment Returns (published 20 June). Paragraph 4.2 shows the direct costs of administering the return for 200203 as 220 million or an average of 22 per return issued. The cost for 200304 increased marginally to 223 million reflecting increased customer support, the average cost per return issued remains 22.

Self-Assessment Tax Returns

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many UK PAYE taxpayers receive a notice of coding from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs but do not receive a self-assessment return.

Dawn Primarolo: For the tax year 200405 it is estimated that some 11.7 million taxpayers received a notice of coding but were not issued a tax return.

Stamp Duty

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the difficulties experienced by solicitors and homeowners with the scanning of stamp duty land tax forms at Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

Ivan Lewis: Following concerns from the Law Society that a percentage of land transaction returns were rejected because of scanning errors, HMRC agreed to carry out in-depth research into the issue of forms SDLT8 (requests for further information relating to incomplete or incorrectly completed returns). This suggested that in approximately 5 per cent. of cases received, one or more fields were either not captured or were misinterpreted during the scanning process. This figure includes returns where the handwriting results in information being captured incorrectly.
	As a result of this review, HMRC identified a number of modifications which would quickly reduce the percentage of cases in which there is a scanning error. All of the recommendations from the report have now been implemented. As a result of these changes we estimate that about 1 per cent. of cases will now have SDLT8s issued because of scanning issues. HMRC are continuing to work with the Law Society and other stakeholders in order to further reduce these incidents.
	Virtually all of these exceptions arise because of handwriting quality. The report can be found on HMRC's website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/so/sdlt8.htm.
	Since 26 August 2005, it has been possible to file SDLT returns on-line directly into the SDLT automated system. Using this service removes the need to use post, and (because of the in-built checks) has a very high probability of returns being correct first time. If complete information is supplied, on-line filing produces an instant acknowledgement that the return has been accepted. HMRC is working with representative bodies to encourage the use of the service.

Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are in receipt of child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of in-work families with tax credits for 200304 awards, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 200304, appear in the HMRC statistical publication Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics: 200304. More recent provisional estimates for in-work families, as at selected dates in 200405 appear in the publication Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics: Provisional Awards at Snapshot Dates. The estimates are based on samples and are subject to significant sampling uncertainty. These publications can be found on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm.

Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Treasury of administering child tax credit was in each year since itwas established.

Dawn Primarolo: The cost of managing and paying the child and working tax credits in the financial year 200304 appear in note 3 to the Trust Statement in the Inland Revenue Annual Report and Accounts for 200304. The same costs for the financial year 200405 appear in note 3 to the Trust Statement in the Inland Revenue Annual Report and Accounts for 200405. Figures for 200506 will not be available until the Trust Statement for that year is released.

Tax Credits

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the extent of in-year tax credit overpayment in Scotland, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates for 200304 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency and local authority, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 200304 are published in Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. 200304 Geographical Analysis. This publication is available on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.
	Information on the number of in-year adjustments to tax credit awards is not available.

Tax Credits

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants there have been in the parliamentary constituency of West Chelmsford since the current scheme began, broken down by those (a) underpaid, (b) overpaid and (c) paid the correct amount.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mrs. Dorries) on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 321W.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases the automatic recovery of tax credit overpayment has been suspended while a dispute between the claimant and HM Revenue and Customs is being investigated; and when the new IT procedure that allowed this suspension came into effect.

Dawn Primarolo: As HMRC officials said to the Treasury Sub-Committee of the House on 12 October 2005, the intention is to introduce a new fully automated computer function designed to suspend recovery of disputed overpayments. This will, however, require quite significant reform to the existing IT system. Effective interim procedures that will enable the suspension of recovery in all disputed cases are taking time to develop and will be introduced as soon as possible.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Access to Treatment

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what intermediate goals his Department has set to judge its progress in contributing to the G8's commitment to achieving as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all those who need it by 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: In line with the commitments made both at G8 summit at Gleneagles and the Millennium Review summit, the UK acting as G8 Presidency has taken active steps to progress work with the international community, in particular the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS),
	to develop and implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care, with the aim of as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all those who need it by 2010.
	On September 2, the UK (acting as G8 president) called an informal meeting attended by members of the G8, developing countries, civil society, UNAIDS, the WHO, the World Bank, and UNICEF to address next steps. This resulted in a strong and shared commitment to joint action and to move this forward, recognising that efforts to meet these must:
	be country-owned and country-led;
	develop a package which balances treatment, prevention and carea comprehensive response is essential to achieve this ambitious goal;
	situate actions to achieve Universal Access in wider efforts to eradicate poverty, including strengthening health services;
	involve all key players: civil society, private sector, donors and affected countries.
	UNAIDS has been asked to develop a process and set intermediate targets to mobilise action at country level and to address any blockages at global level (for example on questions of drug pricing and procurement). They expect to establish a taskforce, building on the work of the Global Task Team on AIDS Co-ordination among Multilateral Institutions and International Donors (GTT). The taskforce is expected to comprise of high-level representatives of UN member states (donors and developing countries), multilateral institutions, research institutions, the private sector and civil society groups, including people with HIV. UNAIDS will be asked to report on steps taken and action required to meet on these commitments at the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in 2006.

European Development Fund

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his policy towards linking good governance with the distribution of financing available under the 9th European Development Fund.

Gareth Thomas: Commitments to good governance underpin the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)European Union (EU) Partnership Agreement (known as the 'Cotonou Agreement').
	Resources under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) were allocated on the basis of country needs and performance. The latter includes Government actions in institutional reform and accountability, democratic freedoms, and macro-economic and sectoral policy. The mid-term and end-of-term reviews of country strategies provide the opportunity to adjust these allocations, taking account of new needs and performance.
	Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, the rule of law and measures to fight corruption are essential or fundamental elements of the Cotonou Agreement, and are the subject of regular dialogue between the EU and partner countries. Where concerns arise, measures are identified to resolve the issue.
	The Government believe the quality of institutions of governance is crucial to reducing poverty, safeguarding basic rights and ensuring the appropriate use of development funds. We fully support a regular and comprehensive dialogue on these issues.

Hurricane Katrina

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has given the United States following Hurricane Katrina; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) responded by sending 2,900 blankets, specifically requested by the US Government, which were transported free of charge by an aircraft donated by Airbus International that also carried French supplies.
	The value of this support is about 10,000. DFID also seconded an expert to help coordinate donations by other EU countries. Separately, the Ministry of Defence delivered around 482,000 ration packs.

St. Helena

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list consultancy companies which the Department has used in drawing up tourism strategies for the Island ofSt. Helena.

Hilary Benn: DFID has used the consultancy company listed as follows in drawing up tourism strategies for the Island of St. Helena:
	Consultant
	Edward Kelly
	Project Title
	Consultancy to Update the St Helena Tourism Strategy

United Nations

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the Government (a) made representations to and (b) held discussions with (i) counterparts in other UN member states and (ii)at UN meetings in respect of the future plans andmanagement of the (1) UN Emergency Fund and (2) UN Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs; and what proposals the UK put forward on these occasions.

Hilary Benn: Since I set out my proposals for reform of the international humanitarian system in December last year, DFID Ministers and senior officials have talked to a number of other UN member states, in particular about the development of a revised and expanded UN Central Emergency Revolving Fund (CERF). I attended the UN Millennium Review summit in September, and spoke at a humanitarian reform event at which Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg announced contributions to the revised CERF totalling US$60 million, in addition to previously announced Norwegian and UK contributions of US$30 million and US$70 million respectively.
	At a Good Humanitarian Donorship meeting with a number of donors on 5 October in Geneva, chaired by DFID, a range of humanitarian reform proposals were discussed, including the role that the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) should play in them. On 6 October, a meeting of the OCHA Donor Support Group was held, chaired by the US, at which the leading donors to OCHA (including the UK) discussed OCHA's future workplans, priorities and challenges with senior OCHA officials. The UK provides financial support to OCHA to improve its performance in planning and co-ordination of humanitarian responses, with emphasis on protection of vulnerable populations, and disaster management and risk reduction initiatives.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Disabled Access

Vincent Cable: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the doorknobs in Portcullis House have been assessed as compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Nick Harvey: The design of Portcullis House complied with all statutory requirements when built, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. I am aware that some users find the doorknobs in Portcullis House difficult to operate. The Parliamentary Estates Directorate are engaged in discussions with Michael Hopkins Architects to identify a satisfactory solution.

Mail Screening

Andrew Turner: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost of screening mail outside the parliamentary estate was in the last period for which figures are available; what the cost of internal screening was in the latest comparable period; and what turn-round time was built into the new contract.

Nick Harvey: The cost of screening mail outside the parliamentary estate for the month of September 2005 was some 100,000. Mail screening has not been performed internally since 1996 and therefore no comparable figures are available. Rather than specify turn around time, the screening contract requires a percentage of the mail to be available on each of the three daily deliveries in conjunction with the mail services contract. The target of making between 60 per cent. and 80 per cent. of mail available for the first internal delivery at 8am is by and large being met despite teething problems.

Portcullis House

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost has been of providing a window cleaning service in Portcullis House in each year since its construction.

Nick Harvey: Until 2003, the component costs of cleaning windows in Portcullis House were not separately identified by the contractor and could be calculated only at disproportionate cost. Since August 2003, when the present contract was let to MITIE, the cost of cleaning internal and external windows including the atrium roof has been 115,000 per annum.

Security

Harry Cohen: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what action is being taken in response to the recent discovery of a non-passholder in an unauthorised location, the details of which have been communicated to him; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The Commission is not responsible for the enforcement of the rules governing access to the estate, which is the responsibility of the Serjeant at Arms acting under the authority of Mr. Speaker.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the aid promised to Africa at the G8 summit will be used for the purposes for which it is intended.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	The G8 agreed that additional resources will be focused on low income countries that are committed to growth and poverty reduction, to democratic, accountable and transparent government and to sound financial management. Where this is the case, it should be up to the country concerned to decide how best to use the resources to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which are focused on reducing poverty, improving people's access to education, health, water and sanitation.
	In March 2005, the Department for International Development published a policy paper explaining our approach in more detail, 'Partnerships for Poverty Reduction: Rethinking Conditionally'. This states that an effective aid partnership should be based on a shared commitment to: reducing poverty and achieving the MDGs; respecting human rights and other international obligations; and strengthening financial management and accountability, to reduce the risk of funds being misused through weak administration or corruption. We will consider reducing or interrupting aid if partner governments deviate significantly from any of the three objectives. However we will try to strengthen countries' leadership of their own development by not making our aid conditional on specific policy decisions by partner governments. Our assessment of progress will be based on mutually agreed benchmarks, drawn wherever possible from national plans. The assessment will focus on overall impact, rather than specific policies.

Africa

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Britishembassies have closed in Africa in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: I refer the hon. Member to my writtenstatement of 11 October 2005, Official Report, columns 2123WS. In the last 12 months, the FCO has closed the British embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The British High Commissions in Maseru, Lesotho, and in Mbabane, Swaziland, were also closed in this period.

Burma

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to stop human rights violations taking place in Burma;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to bring the Burmese regime to justice for human rights violations.

Ian Pearson: The Government have strongly criticised the Burmese regime's abuses of human rights. The UK works closely with international partners to press for improvements to human rights in Burma and fully supports the efforts of the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma, Professor Sergio Pinheiro. Human rights violations have been highlighted by successive highly critical UK co-sponsored UN Resolutions on Burma, most recently at the UN Commission on Human Rights in April. We also support the efforts of the International Labour Organisation to end the use of forced labour. The EU has repeatedly condemned Burma's lack of progress on this issue.
	There is currently no international tribunal with jurisdiction over Burma. Furthermore, we note that the National League for Democracy Central Executive Committee wrote on 27 December 2004 to Senior General Than Shwe proposing that past deeds should be deleted, i.e. the slate should be wiped clean.

Committee of the Regions

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the process is for agreeing nominations to the Committee of the Regions; and whether the Government will reflect proportionality between the UK's political parties in its nominations.

Douglas Alexander: The current Committee of the Regions (CoR) members' term of office ends on 25 January 2006, and member states need to submit their candidates for the new term by 28 October 2005. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has overall responsibility for ensuring that the UK is adequately represented in the CoR, and he therefore wrote in June to my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister (John Prescott) and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Peter Hain), and to the First Ministers for Scotland (Jack McConnell) and Wales (Rhodri Morgan), asking for their nominations by 30 September. All have now replied with the names of their candidates, after consulting local government bodies, and political parties, in accordance with established procedure. The next step will be for the Foreign Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to approve the nominations. One of the factors which the Foreign Secretary takes into account when deciding whether or not to approve the nominations is the political balance of the UK delegation.

Embassies/High Commissions

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further plans he has (a) to close, (b) to contract and (c) to expand embassies and high commissions.

Jack Straw: I set out details of planned closure and localisation of British embassies and high commissions and other posts in my written ministerial statement of 11 October 2005, Official Report, columns 2124WS.

EU Travel Bans

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list individuals subject to an EU travel ban whom he has met over the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: EU travel bans prevent listed individuals from travelling to the EU, except in the case of specified exemptions set out in the EU Common Position on Zimbabwe. The UK meets its obligations fully in upholding these travel bans, which it believes are an effective measure in applying pressure against regimes which have particularly poor records on human rights, democracy, good governance and the rule of law.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has of course not met any listed individuals in the EU in contravention of these travel bans. Nor has he had meetings with such individuals outside the EU.
	At international meetings, such as those at the UN, British Ministers come into contact with representatives of foreign governments whatever our views of them, including those subject to EU travel bans. In the past, the Foreign Secretary has briefly come into contact with Zimbabwean President Mugabe, former Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge and current Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Mumbengegwi at the UN General Assembly in New York.
	The Foreign Secretary also occasionally met Foreign Minister Mumbengegwi in the course of normal diplomatic business in Mumbengegwi's previous role as ambassador to the UK, before his inclusion on the travel ban in 2005.

Extraordinary Rendition

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he received a letter from Martin Scheinin, a rapporteur for the UN Commission on Human Rights, regarding alleged British involvement in extraordinary rendition; and if he will place a copy of his response in the Library.

Ian Pearson: The Government have not received a letter from Professor Martin Scheinin, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Terrorism, on the specific subject of extraordinary rendition. We have received two letters from Professor Scheinin seeking information on counter-terrorism measures employed or proposed by the Government. The Home Office is dealing with both letters and will respond. We will then co-ordinate with them and Professor Scheinin to see if copies of the Government's responses to him can be placed in the Library of the House. I will let my hon. Friend know if and when this can be done.

Hong Kong

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12th July 2005, Official Report, column 878W, on SirDonald Tsang, whether Sir Donald Tsang (a) has asked the Department not to use his title and (b) informed the Department that he does not wish to be known by it.

Ian Pearson: Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang has not asked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office not to use his title. Donald Tsang chooses not to use his title in his official capacity, and in official correspondence the Chief Executive is referred to as The Honourable Donald Tsang. We therefore respect this evident preference.

Iraq

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what formal representations have been made to the Government of Iraq concerning possible Iranian support for insurgents operating against Iraqi security forces and UK troops in Southern Iraq.

Kim Howells: We have been speaking to the Iraqi Transitional Government on a regular basis about this issue since the summer of 2005. On 1 August 2005 our Ambassador to Iraq made formal representation to the Iraqi Defence Minister, Sadoun Dulime, concerning possible Iranian support for insurgents in Southern Iraq.

Iraq

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Iraqi officials concerning possible Iranian involvement in the insurgency in Iraq; and on what date he received those representations.

Kim Howells: We have not received formal representation from Iraqi Officials concerning possible Iranian involvement in the insurgency in Iraq.

Iraq

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his officials in (a) Iraq and (b) London were first informed of reports that (i) Iranian and (ii) Hizbullah personnel were training insurgents operating in southern Iraq.

Kim Howells: We first became aware in early summer 2005 of reports suggesting that military equipment originating in Iran may have been used against British soldiers in Southern Iraq.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK Government's position is on whether the recent Israeli air strikes on Gaza and the resumption of targeted assassinations constitute a proportionate response to the rocket attacks that were launched by Palestinian militants in the days following Gaza disengagement.

Kim Howells: The Government's consistent policy is that as long as it acts within international law, Israel has the right to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks which we condemn absolutely. Targeted killings are contrary to international law.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the legality of Israel's E1 plan outside Jerusalem and (b) its implications for progress with the Road Map.

Kim Howells: The plan to expand the Israeli settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim into the so-called E1 area east of Jerusalem, combined with the proposed route of the barrier, threatens to complete the encircling of the city by settlements and cut off Palestinian East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. This would have serious economic, social and humanitarian consequences for Palestinians who live in these areas.
	These Israeli actions are in violation of Israel's Roadmap obligations and international law. If they continue, they will make it harder to reach a final status agreement on Jerusalem. We and others in the international community have made our concerns on this clear to the Government of Israel.

Krishna Maharaj

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made on behalf of Krishna Maharaj; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Mr. Maharaj's case is currently before the US Federal Court of Appeals. In January 2005, the Government submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Court of Appeals in relation to lack of consular notification. We continue to monitor the case in consultation with Mr. Maharaj's legal representatives in the US and UK.

Peru

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the progress of judicial reform in Peru, with particular reference to the case of (a) Augusto Camacho Alarcon and (b) Carlos Jose Garay; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Our ambassador in Lima discussed judicial reform with the Peruvian Justice Minister on 19 September. The ambassador received representations from the Justice Minister on the Progress of judicial reform in Peru. Our ambassador emphasised the strong support the UK and the EU have given to judicial reform in Peru. Under our EU Presidency, the embassy has chaired meetings of EU Heads of Mission to discuss EU projects on judicial reform in Peru.
	We have not received representations on the cases of Augusto Camacho Alarcon and Carlos Jose Garay. However, we understand that the Peruvian National Terrorism Court has ordered that Alarcon and Garay be re-tried under terrorism charges. We also understand that these individuals have been released from custody and are currently awaiting their re-trial.

Ricin Investigations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he received the report from Porton Down regarding the analysis of substances believed to be ricin found during investigations in 2003 which concluded that no ricin was present; and when he informed the United States Government of this conclusion.

Kim Howells: The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down did not send the report of these tests to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Royal Navy Patrol Boats

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Iranian Government to return the three Royal Navy patrol boats seized in 2004.

Kim Howells: We have pressed the Iranian authorities on many occasions to return the Royal Navy boats and equipment which they have held since June 2004. Our discussions continue.

Tibetan Students (China)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Chinese Government have cancelled the passport of any student from Tibet granted a chemistry scholarship by his Department.

Ian Pearson: The issue of passports to Chinese nationals is a matter for the Chinese Government. The UK Government are not in a position to know whether the Chinese Government have cancelled a passport unless it is specifically brought to our attention.

Turkey

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what acknowledgement has been (a) sought from and (b) made by the government of Turkey, in connection with the accession of that country to the EU, of the responsibility of that country or its predecessor for the Armenian genocide.

Douglas Alexander: There is no consensus among EU member states that the massacres of 191516 should be categorised as genocide as defined by the 1948 UN Convention on Genocide and there is no reference to the issue in the Negotiating Framework agreed by EU member states that will guide Turkey's accession negotiations. The Turkish government does not accept that there was any intention or act that constituted genocide.
	We welcomed open discussion of this and related matters at a recent conference in Istanbul, and the Turkish Foreign Minister's statement to that conference expressing hope that research into the era could improve relations between Turkey and Armenia. It was also welcome that, on 9 March, the Turkish Prime Minister and the leader of the main opposition party called for an impartial investigation into the 'genocide' allegations by Turkish and Armenian historians under the supervision of an international organisation such as the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation. The Armenian President, however, rejected the proposal on the grounds that establishing diplomatic relations was a necessary prior step.

Volunteering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many volunteering positions his Department has offered in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this information centrally. To collate it would incur disproportionate costs.

West Papua

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of human rights abuses in West Papua.

Ian Pearson: We are concerned about reports of human rights abuses in Papua, and we raise these regularly with the Government of Indonesia, We also encourage the Indonesian Government to engage in dialogue with Papuan representatives and to proceed with full implementation of the Special Autonomy legislation.
	We are encouraged by President Yudhoyono's recent statements that his Government wishes to solve the issue in Papua through dialogue,
	in a peaceful, just and dignified manner.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Autism

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to provide a Province-wide autism strategy.

Shaun Woodward: Policy and services for children and adults with autism are currently being examined under the Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability (N.I.). The review will recommend how future service delivery should be organised.

Big Lottery Fund

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people work in the Big Lottery Fund for Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: A total of 55 full-time equivalents are currently employed in the Big Lottery Fund's Belfast office.

Breast Screening

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his Answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 191W, on breast screening, what percentage of women (a) with a disability and (b) from ethnic minority backgrounds received breast screening in each of the last five years in each health board area.

Shaun Woodward: Data on the uptake of breast screening specifically relating to the number of women with a disability or from ethnic minority backgrounds is not routinely collected.

Cervical Screening

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the percentage uptake rate was for cervical screening among women in each health board area in each of the last five years; and what the percentage was for women (a) from ethnic minority backgrounds and (b) with a disability.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested on the first part of this question is as set out in the table.
	
		
			  As at March each year 
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 EHSSB 66.17 66.99 69.17 69.16 68.01 
			 NHSSB 74.34 74.96 76.97 77.14 75.98 
			 SHSSB 71.24 72.54 74.48 74.47 73.91 
			 WHSSB 67.65 67.98 69.66 68.71 68.92 
		
	
	The present system of recording uptake rates does not allow for the collection of data relating to either ethnicity or disability.

Classrooms (Road Noise)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines are set for the maximum level of background road noise in (a) classrooms and (b) classrooms in schools with special needs.

Angela Smith: At present there are no specific guidelines in Northern Ireland that set the maximum level of background road noise in classrooms.
	However, when considering acoustics in schools, the Department of Education and school authorities currently follow the guidance in Building Bulletin 87, Guidelines for Environmental Design in Schools, issued by the Department for Education and Skills, which states the following:
	Each room or other space in a school building shall have the acoustic conditions and the insulation against disturbance by noise, appropriate to its normal use.

Criminal Prosecutions

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of criminal prosecutions in Northern Ireland resulted in a conviction in each of the past 10 years.

David Hanson: The following table outlines the number of criminal prosecutions in Northern Ireland and the number and percentage of subsequent convictions for the years 1994 to 2003. Data for 2004 will not be available until early 2006.
	
		
			  Number of prosecutions Number of convictions Percentage convicted and sentenced 
		
		
			 1994 38,884 34,216 88 
			 1995 37,908 32,972 87 
			 1996 36,016 30,676 85 
			 1997 35,599 30,964 87 
			 1998 31,127 26,881 86 
			 1999 30,439 26,524 87 
			 2000 30,492 26,618 87 
			 2001 28,563 24,350 85 
			 2002 28,044 24,100 86 
			 2003 30,937 26,675 86

Crosshill Quarry

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what legislation was in place to control hazardous waste at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin in the period from 25 November 2003 to 19 December 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Special Waste Regulations (NI) 1998 were in place during the period from 25 November 2003 to the 19 December 2003 to control Special Waste movements to and from Crosshill Quarry. During this period however, no hazardous waste was introduced to the quarry. The Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 and relevant statutory provisions made under that Order are in place to protect persons at work within the quarry site.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals have been treated with electroconvulsive therapy in the Province in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The total number of patients who received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in each financial year 199495 to 200405 is provided in the following table.
	
		Total number of patients who have received electroconvulsive therapy
		
			  Number of patients who received ECT 
		
		
			 199495 1,039 
			 199596 1,081 
			 199697 936 
			 199798 876 
			 199899 808 
			 19992000 717 
			 200001 629 
			 200102 659 
			 200203 662 
			 200304 624 
			 200405 472 
		
	
	Note:
	Data are collected on a quarterly basis and include both new patients and patients who received ECT previously. Therefore patients may be included in the table more than once over the year if they received ECT in a previous quarter.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are used in Northern Ireland hospitals to establish consent from a patient for electroconvulsive therapy.

Shaun Woodward: A standard consent form is used to obtain consent from patients. When a patient is unable to give consent, a second opinion is necessary from an independent doctor appointed by the Mental Health Commission before the procedure can proceed.

Fire Authority

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new members have been appointed to the Fire Authority since May.

Shaun Woodward: None.

Fire Authority

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the Fire Authority to be reconstituted.

Shaun Woodward: Under the proposed Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board would replace the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland as the governing body for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
	A 12-week public consultation on the wording and effect of the Draft Order closed on 14 October 2005. Once the responses have been considered and the Draft Order has been finalised it will be laid at Westminster. It is anticipated that the order will be made at Privy Council around March 2006 and the provisions to establish the new board will be commenced as soon as practicable thereafter.

Firearm Certificates

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) firearm certificates were held, (b) new applications for firearm certificates were granted and (c) firearm certificates were extinguished in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Statistics held by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Firearms Licensing Branch are as follows:
	
		
			  Total firearm certificates held New grants Extinguished 
		
		
			 19992000 81,783 2,948 n/a 
			 200001 80,809 2,632 n/a 
			 200102 80,113 2,523 n/a 
			 200203 79,223 2,682 n/a 
			 200304 78,066 2,742 n/a 
			 200405 n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a=not available
	Statistics are not available for 200405.

Foster Care

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much a foster family in Belfast received for each child fostered in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 258W.

General Practitioners

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time general practitioners are employed in the Province; and how many there were (a) five and (b) 10 years ago.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the table.
	
		Number of general practitioners (unrestricted principals) employed in NHS: currently, five years ago and 10 years ago
		
			  Headcount WTE(27) 
		
		
			 1995 1,003 949 
			 2000 1,053 983 
			 2005 1,084 (28)n/a 
		
	
	(27)Whole time equivalent
	(28)Not available
	The increase in the number of full-time general practitioners for 19952000 is 34. The WTE figure for 2005 is not available.

Health Service Administrators

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many administrators were employed within the health service in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the table.
	
		Number of administrators employed within the Northern Ireland HPSS as at 30 September 2005
		
			  Administration and clerical grades 
		
		
			 Headcount 13,237 
			 Whole-time equivalent 11,572.97

Health Service Administrators

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many administrators were employed within the health service in the Province in June 1997.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available for June 1997. However, information as at 30 September 1997 is provided in the following table.
	
		Number of administrators employed within the Northern Ireland HPSS as at 30 September 1997
		
			  Headcount Whole time equivalent 
		
		
			 Administration and clerical grades 9,536 8,457.65

Health Service Costs

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost to the health service in the Province in the last 12 months of the failure by patients to return equipment loaned to them.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available centrally.

Hospital Managers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many managers within the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust are (a) Protestant and (b) Roman Catholic.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		Number of managers within the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust who are (a) Protestant and (b) Roman Catholic as at January 2005
		
			 Religion Headcount 
		
		
			 (a) Protestant 156 
			 (b) Roman Catholic 45 
			 Other/not known 15 
			 Total 216

Hospital Treatments

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total number of hospital treatments was in Northern Ireland in 2001.

Shaun Woodward: Information is not available on the total number of hospital treatments undertaken in 2001. Information is available on the number of inpatient and day case procedures undertaken in acute hospitals in Northern Ireland in 2001.
	In 2001 there were 523,957 procedures undertaken in acute hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Hospital Treatments

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many hospital treatments there were in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: Information is not available on the total number of hospital treatments undertaken during the last 12 months. Information is available on the number of inpatient and day case procedures undertaken in acute hospitals in Northern Ireland in 200405.
	In 200405 there were 589,321 procedures undertaken in acute hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Hospital Treatments

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total number of hospital treatments in the Province was in 1999.

Shaun Woodward: Information is not available on the total number of hospital treatments undertaken in 1999. Information is available on the number of inpatient and day case procedures undertaken in acute hospitals in Northern Ireland in 1999.
	In 1999 there were 487,155 procedures undertaken in acute hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of (a) Clostridium difficile and (b) Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia have been reported (i) at each hospital and (ii) within each health trust in the Province in each month of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested, which is only available quarterly by hospital for Clostridium difficile and quarterly by trust for Staphylococcus aureus, is set out in the following tables.
	(a) Clostridium difficile is only available from 1 January 2005 when surveillance became mandatory in Northern Ireland.
	
		
			 Hospital January March 2005 April June 2005 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 15 36 
			 Antrim Hospital 18 14 
			 Belfast City Hospital 39 44 
			 Belvoir Park Hospital 3 3 
			 Causeway Hospital 11 19 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 57 41 
			 Daisy Hill Hospital 7 8 
			 Downe Hospital 4 5 
			 Erne Hospital 2 1 
			 Lagan Valley Hospital 3 8 
			 Lurgan General Hospital 12 16 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 8 10 
			 Mid Ulster Hospital 15 6 
			 Musgrave Park Hospital 6 1 
			 Royal Victoria Hospitals 33 26 
			 South Tyrone Hospital 0 5 
			 Tyrone County Hospital 3 2 
			 Ulster Hospital 49 43 
			 Whiteabbey Hospital 6 2 
		
	
	(b) Staphylococcus aureus is only available from July 2002.
	
		
			  2002 2003 
			 Trust July-September October-December January-March April-June July-September October-December 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 6 7 8 7 8 13 
			 Belfast City Hospital 23 30 28 32 26 34 
			 Causeway 5 8 2 9 5 6 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group 9 13 9 10 12 21 
			 Down Lisburn 1 6 7 11 4 7 
			 Green Park 3 1 4 1 6 2 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 4 10 11 8 11 10 
			 Newry and Mourne 5 6 5 6 7 6 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 18 20 29 28 32 23 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 12 6 11 5 9 9 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals 15 26 13 15 16 11 
			 United Hospitals 19 20 25 35 23 29 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 2005 
			  January-March April-June July-September October-December January-March April-June(29) 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 14 15 8 11 11 15 
			 Belfast City Hospital 35 14 26 17 26 35 
			 Causeway 7 1 8 4 5 6 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group 12 13 13 7 12 10 
			 Down Lisburn 6 6 8 4 7 6 
			 Green Park 3 1 4 2 2 3 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 8 7 1 7 8 16 
			 Newry and Mourne 5 6 4 6 5 3 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 36 20 23 36 29 30 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 10 7 16 4 7 6 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals 13 21 20 14 15 16 
			 United Hospitals 31 24 25 17 21 14 
		
	
	(29) Provisional
	Notes:
	1. Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia reporting became a mandatory requirement from 1 April 2002.
	2. Staphylococcus aureus patient episodes' are defined as the total number of patients from whom blood culture set(s) collected during the quarter grew Staphylococcus aureus. If repeat specimens were collected from a single patient, and the patient was considered to have had two episodes of bacteraemia, then they should be counted as two patients. As an arbitrary measure, if positive blood culture sets are collected more than 14 days apart, they should be considered as reflecting different episodes.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of (a) hospital acquired and (b) other healthcare acquired infections there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: This information is not available in the form requested.

Maritime Safety

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many emergency calls relating to people having difficulty at sea around the coastline of Northern Ireland there have been in each of the past three years.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is as follows.
	
		Incidents dealt with as a result of an emergency call
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2004 333 
			 2003 336 
			 2002 352

Medical Notes

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what locations, apart from hospitals, hospital medical notes are stored in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Trusts in Northern Ireland use secure storage facilities in Mallusk and Lisburn for the storage of hospital medical notes off site.

Missed Appointments

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the number of missed appointments at GP surgeries in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The Department does not hold information on missed appointments at GP surgeries. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Multiple Sclerosis

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many multiple sclerosis sufferers in the Province are waiting to commence treatment with beta interferon or glatiramer, broken down by health board.

Shaun Woodward: The number of multiple sclerosis patients in each Health and Social Services Board area waiting for beta interferon or glatiramer treatment at 30 September 2005 is as follows.
	
		
			 Health board Number waiting for beta interferon/glatiramer treatment at 30 September 2005 
		
		
			 Eastern 56 
			 Northern 56 
			 Southern 16 
			 Western 19 
			 NI total 147 
		
	
	Note:
	Patients currently suspended from the waiting list are excluded from these figures.

Multiple Sclerosis

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many multiple sclerosis patients in the Province were waiting to commence treatment with beta interferon or glatiramer in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The number of multiple sclerosis patients in the Province waiting for beta interferon or glatiramer treatment in each of the last three years is displayed in the following table. Information prior to September 2003 is not readily available.
	
		
			   Date Number waiting for beta interferon/glatiramer treatment in Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 30 September 2003 103 
			 30 September 2004 70 
			 30 September 2005 147 
		
	
	Note:
	Patients currently suspended from the waiting list are excluded from these figures.

Multiple Sclerosis

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many multiple sclerosis patients in the Province on the waiting list to commence treatment with beta interferon or glatiramer have been waiting for (a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months, (c) 12 to 18 months, (d) 18 to 24 months, (e) 24 to 30 months and (f) more than 30 months.

Shaun Woodward: The number of multiple sclerosis patients in Northern Ireland waiting for beta interferon or glatiramer treatment at 30 September 2005 for (a) less than six months (b) six to 12 months (c) 12 to 18 months, (d) 18 to 24 months, (e) 24 to 30 months and (f) more than 30 months are shown in the table:
	
		
			   Time waiting Number waiting for beta interferon/glatiramer treatment at 30 September 2005 
		
		
			 (a) Less than 6 months 66 
			 (b) 612 months 59 
			 (c) 1218 months 22 
			 (d) 1824 months 0 
			 (e) 2430 months 0 
			 (f) 30 months 0 
			 Total 147 
		
	
	Note:
	Patients currently suspended from the waiting list are excluded from these figures.

Northern Ireland Events Company

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been allocated by the Northern Ireland Events Company in the last five years, broken down by (a) Westminster parliamentary constituency and (b) district council area.

David Hanson: The Northern Ireland Events Company has allocated exchequer funding in Northern Ireland for the amounts shown in the table as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200001 1.1 
			 200102 1.6 
			 200203 2.1 
			 200304 2.458 
			 200405 1.89 
		
	
	Information on Northern Ireland Events Company funding for events is retained in accordance with how it is distributed, i.e. to individual events and by programme. Funding is not distributed on a parliamentary constituency or district council area basis and consequently the details requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nurses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new nurses have been appointed in the Province in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The information is as follows.
	
		Number of qualified nurses joining the HPSS in each of the last five years
		
			  Headcount Wholetime equivalent 
		
		
			 April 2000 to March 2001 1,214 1,060.92 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 982 880.53 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 1,736 1,545.53 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 1,483 1,347.21 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 1,194 1,103.66 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Joiner figures may include: new graduates, return to practice, recruitment from independent and private sector, staff from other parts of the UK, Republic of Ireland and overseas.
	2.Qualified nurses includes midwives and health visitors.

Nurses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate how many of the Province's qualified nurses have left the profession in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of qualified nurses who have left the nursing profession is not collected. However, the number of qualified nurses leaving the HPSS in the last 10 years is provided in the following table.
	
		Number of qualified nurses leaving the HPSS in each of the last 10 years
		
			 April to March Headcount Whole time equivalent 
		
		
			 199596 912 787.01 
			 199697 1,104 925.37 
			 199798 1,297 1,090.22 
			 199899 1,120 906.73 
			 19992000 725 609.63 
			 200001 955 814.01 
			 200002 896 741.84 
			 200203 739 625.42 
			 200304 913 765.48 
			 200405 893 756.22 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Leavers may include: retirees, staff transferring to the independent or private sector, staff transferring to the NHS in England, Scotland or Wales, staff taking a career break and other destinations.
	2.Information on the actual destination of leavers is not collected.
	3.Qualified nurses include midwives and health visitors.

Occupational Therapy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many occupational therapy vacancies there are within each health trust in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: The information is as follows.
	
		Number of current vacancies for occupational therapists at each health trust as at 31 March 2005
		
			 Trust Headcount Wholetime equivalent 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 4 3.30 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 1 1.00 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 2 1.50 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS  Trust 1 1.00 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 4 4.00 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 1 0.50 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 11 10.00 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 3 3.00 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 2 2.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 15 12.60 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 6 6.00 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 8 5.00 
			 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 1 1.00 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group  HSS Trust 3 2.50 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Total 62 53.40 
		
	
	
		Number of long-term vacancies for occupational therapists at each Health Trust as at 31March 2005
		
			 Trust Headcount Wholetime equivalent 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 1 1.00 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 1 1.00 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS  Trust 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 2 2.00 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 9 8.00 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 3 3.00 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 14 11.60 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group  HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 0 0.00 
			 Total 30 26.60

Occupational Therapy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new occupational therapists have been appointed in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the table.
	
		Number of occupational therapists joining the HPSS in each of the last five years
		
			  Headcount Whole time equivalent 
		
		
			 April 2000 to March 2001 56 55.11 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 53 49.49 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 67 64.09 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 67 64.10 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 86 81.23 
		
	
	Notes:
	Joiner figures may include: new graduates, return to practice, recruitment from independent and private sector, staff from other parts of the UK, Republic of Ireland and overseas.

Operations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many operations were performed in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: There were 252,293 operations performed in surgical specialties in acute hospitals in Northern Ireland in 200405 (the latest year for which figures are available).

Physiotherapists

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State forNorthern Ireland how many physiotherapists have been appointed in the Province in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the table.
	
		Number of physiotherapists joining the HPSS in each of the last five years
		
			  Headcount Whole time equivalent 
		
		
			 April 2000 to March 2001 58 51.93 
			 April 2001 to March 2002 74 68.34 
			 April 2002 to March 2003 81 71.76 
			 April 2003 to March 2004 96 90.92 
			 April 2004 to March 2005 92 85.31 
		
	
	Notes:
	Joiner figures may include: new graduates, return to practice, recruitment from independent and private sector, staff from other parts of the UK, Republic of Ireland and overseas.

Police Recruitment

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy to bar people without terrorist convictions but against whom there is good intelligence of involvement with paramilitary organisations from service as (a) full-time police officers, (b) police reservists, (c) police civilian staff and (d) police community support officers; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The vetting arrangements with regards to police recruitment include consideration of all relevant security and criminal information relating to the applicant and their close relatives. This also includes financial and domestic violence checks.
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland stated unequivocally, on 13 October during his Oral Statement to the House, the normal recruitment criteria that applies to all applications to the police service at this present time will continue to apply in the future, including applications for Police Community Support Officers should the Policing Board and Chief Constable recommend their introduction to Northern Ireland.
	The report of the Independent Commission was clear and unambiguous in stating that people with serious criminal or terrorist backgrounds should not be considered to serve in any area of the police service. We remain absolutely committed to this stance and foresee no circumstances where this might change.

School Crossing Patrol

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make a statement to the House on the Government's policy towards the provision of school crossing patrolmen/women at primary schools in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Government recognise the important contribution that these patrols make to ensure the safety of children walking to and from school, although there is no statutory requirement to provide crossing patrols at or near schools.
	The Department of Education has made clear to education and library boards the need to have clear criteria for the provision of crossing patrols that ensure that patrols are provided where there are safety issues. In response, boards have agreed to operate within the Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association (LARSOA) guidelines. These guidelines provide an objective, risk-based framework for assessing the need for crossing patrols, taking into account factors such as the volume of traffic, road width, availability of footpaths and provision of other crossing aids such as footbridges or pelican crossings. Where the guidelines demonstrate particular hazards or risks, crossing patrols are normally provided.

School Crossing Patrol

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether an education board is obliged to immediately replace a retiring school crossing patrolman/woman with a new patrolman/woman whenever real risk to the safety of school children attending school is assessed to exist.

Angela Smith: When an education and library board is aware that a crossing patrolperson is going to retire/resign, it will carry out an assessment of need to determine if the patrol point still meets the eligibility criteria relating to the identification of hazards and assessing risks as determined in a framework based on the Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association (LARSOA) guidelines. If the patrol point does not meet the criteria a board will not replace the retiring patrolperson. However, if the patrol point still meets the criteria a board will then take action to recruit a new crossing patrolperson.

School Nurses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what obligations school nurses in Northern Ireland are under to inform parents when they are approached by a 13-year-old schoolgirl seeking contraceptive treatment.

Shaun Woodward: All nurses, including school nurses, are bound by their code of professional conduct which, among other things, requires them to observe the duty of confidentiality to all persons seeking advice or treatment including those under 16 years. The code of professional conduct sets out clear guidance on occasions where confidentiality may be breached, for example, for child protection purposes.

Sexual Health Strategy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations have taken place with religious groups in relation to the development of the sexual health strategy.

Shaun Woodward: All the main religious groups were consulted on the draft Sexual Health Promotion Strategy and Action Plan and detailed responses were received from them. In addition further consultations took place in June 2005 between officials and representatives of both the Catholic Church's Family Ministry Commission and CARE, a mainstream Christian movement.
	The responses have been analysed and their on-going evaluation is helping to develop the latest draft of the strategy.

Smoking

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of theimplications of the recent announcement by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission that the freedom to work in a smoke-free environment is a human rights issue; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: On 17 October 2005 the Department announced that it would introduce comprehensive controls on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces, including pubs and bars. A key factor in the decision was the need to protect the public and employees from the dangers of exposure to second hand smoke. It is the intention that the legislation will come into force before the summer of 2007.

Speech and Language Therapists

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new speech and language therapists have been appointed in the Province in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the table.
	
		Number of speech and language therapists joining the HPSS in each of the last five years
		
			 April to March: Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 200001 25 20.28 
			 200102 31 26.91 
			 200203 27 25.15 
			 200304 34 29.40 
			 200405 37 35.88 
		
	
	Note:
	Joiner figures may include: new graduates, return to practice, recruitment from independent and private sector, staff from other parts of the UK, Republic of Ireland and overseas.

Speed Limits (Residential Zones)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many 20 mph residential zones are planned in Northern Ireland; and what the locations are of the planned zones;
	(2)  how many 20 mph residential zones there are in Northern Ireland;
	(3)  if he will list the location of all 20 mph residential zones within Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the hon. Lady in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Iris Robinson, dated 17 October 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland three Parliamentary Questions: how many 20 mph residential zones are planned in Northern Ireland, and what the locations are of the planned zones; how many 20 mph residential zones there are in Northern Ireland, and if he will list the location of all current 20 mph residential zones within Northern Ireland. I have been asked to reply as these issues fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	By way of information, I should explain that 20-mph zones are a form of traffic calming and are generally implemented in residential areas where an extensive network of streets is involved and self-enforcing measures can be provided to reduce vehicle speeds to approximately 20-mph. Whenever speeds have been reduced to this, it is then possible to introduce a mandatory 20-mph limit. If the level of traffic calming measures are insufficient to reduce speeds to around 20-mph, then it is not possible to introduce a 20-mph mandatory limit.
	Roads Service has implemented thirty-seven 20 mph residential zones in the following locations:
	Andersons town area, Belfast
	Ardoyne area, Belfast
	Ballymurphy area, Belfast
	Ballynafeigh area, Belfast
	Bloomfield area, Belfast
	Donegall Road Village area, Belfast
	Holylands area, Belfast
	Riverdale area, Belfast
	Sullenboy Park, Cookstown
	Braeside, Dungannon
	Meadowbank, Dungannon
	Windmill Court, Dungannon
	Windmill Drive, Dungannon
	Woodburn Crescent, Dungannon
	Beech Hill, Enniskillen
	Cavandale, Enniskillen
	Severn Street area, Belfast
	Taughmonagh area, Belfast
	Tonagh Estate, Lisburn
	Turf Lodge area, Belfast
	Greenvale Drive, Cookstown
	Ratheen Avenue, Cookstown
	Derrin Road, Enniskillen
	Erne Drive, Enniskillen
	Meelmore Drive, Omagh
	Carlton Drive, Strabane
	Lisnafin Road, Strabane
	Sycamore Drive, Enniskillen
	Willowvale, Enniskillen
	Altmore Drive, Dungannon
	Lisnahull Road, Dungannon
	Mournebeg Drive, Dungannon
	Corban Avenue, Enniskillen
	Ballycolman, Strabane
	Lisanally Lane, Armagh
	Brownstown West, Portadown
	Carlisle Park, Ballynahinch
	In addition Roads Service has plans to implement a further eight 20mph residential zones in the following locations, subject to them clearing the necessary statutory procedures and the availability of funding:
	Windmill Heights, Enniskillen
	Espey Road, Killyman
	Springhill Park, Strabane
	Sion Mills, village area
	Parkview, Pomeroy
	Parkview Drive, Pomeroy
	Shanroy Park, Pomeroy
	Scrabo Estate, Newtownards
	I should also advise that Roads Service has implemented one non-mandatory advisory 20-mph zone in Earhart Park, Londonderry, and has plans for a further three advisory 20-mph zones in Westlake and Duncastle Park, Londonderry and in Collinbridge area, Newtownabbey. The primary aim of these advisory 20-mph zones is to test the effectiveness of signing alone without the accompanying self enforcing engineering measures.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Sports Council

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been allocated by the Sports Council in Northern Ireland over the last five years, broken down by (a) Westminster parliamentary constituency and (b) district council area.

David Hanson: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland has allocated Exchequer and Lottery funding in Northern Ireland for the amounts shown in the table in the last five years. This includes funding for bodies with a province-wide remit, for example, governing bodies of sport.
	
		Monies allocated by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland --  million
		
			  Exchequer Lottery 
		
		
			 200001 4.423 5.528 
			 200102 3.536 2.090 
			 200203 5.276 1.896 
			 200304 7.096 2.903 
			 200405 5.937 0.788 
		
	
	Information on Exchequer and Lottery funding for sport is retained by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland in accordance with how it is distributed, i.e. to sport, to individual athletes, district council areas and by programme. Information on Exchequer funding has only been kept, with regard to district council area, since 200304, therefore the information requested for district council areas cannot be provided for Exchequer fundingfor the years 200001, 200102 and 200203. Exchequer and Lottery funding is not distributed on a parliamentary constituency Basis, and consequently, the details requested regarding funding broken down by parliamentary constituency areas cannot be provided, except at disproportionate cost.
	The amounts of exchequer funding allocated by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland on a district council basis for the years 200304 and 200405 are shown in the following table:
	
		Exchequer funding by Sports Council for Northern Ireland  -- 
		
			 Council area 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Antrim 0 920 
			 Ards 0 0 
			 Armagh 32,412 28,904 
			 Ballymena 46,989 20,000 
			 Ballymoney 0 108,088 
			 Banbridge 7,610 16,013 
			 Belfast 269,763 722,941 
			 Carrickfergus 0 3,517 
			 Castlereagh 0 105,530 
			 Coleraine 2,101 119,510 
			 Cookstown 16,097 20,297 
			 Craigavon 56,640 306,046 
			 Derry 53,914 353,690 
			 Down 0 136,213 
			 Dungannon 0 0 
			 Fermanagh 0 0 
			 Larne 0 114,000 
			 Limavady 10,845 11,720 
			 Lisburn 3,750 37,316 
			 Magherafelt 15,250 16,550 
			 Moyle 17,045 42,008 
			 Newry and Mourne 0 112,000 
			 Newtownabbey 22,554 38,000 
			 North Down 9,850 4,680 
			 Omagh 8,484 38,636 
			 Strabane 0 112,500 
		
	
	The amounts of Lottery funding allocated by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland on a district council basis for the years 200001 to 200405 are shown in the table. Minus figures indicate awards made in previous years, which have been withdrawn (e.g. for insufficient partnership funding).
	
		Lottery funding by Sports Council for Northern Ireland -- 
		
			 Council area 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Antrim 350,000 160,000 365,000 67,000 -134,963 
			 Ards 106,450 0 33,313 -8,077 -43,373 
			 Armagh 46,389 268,524 70,000 286,327 -210,079 
			 Ballymena 170,000 0 80,000 188,443 395,000 
			 Ballymoney 105,375 0 0 0 0 
			 Banbridge Nil 53,000 85,000 190,000 -4,200 
			 Belfast 822,577 163,908 150,000 0 611,847 
			 Carrickfergus 0 14,000 0 0 0 
			 Castlereagh 60,000 0 30,345 70,000 -60,000 
			 Coleraine 58,019 0 0 85,000 -8,871 
			 Cookstown 308,188 150,000 104,860 0 -25,236 
			 Craigavon 185,000 145,538 0 0 -19,410 
			 Derry 195,000 76,685 15,000 300,496 190,239 
			 Down 303,542 256,137 155,214 70,000 212,131 
			 Dungannon 349,857 30,000 214,649 105,000 -174,935 
			 Fermanagh 319,934 143,591 130,000 316,441 -179,010 
			 Larne 162,900 170,000 0 0 -20,123 
			 Limavady 197,885 0 70,000 70,000 -352,075 
			 Lisburn 393,284 0 23,000 6,680 36,540 
			 Magherafelt 199,410 145,000 0 60,000 112,075 
			 Moyle 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Newry and Mourne 182,300 153,875 120,000 295,874 110,064 
			 Newtownabbey 219,000 0 80,000 247,795 -76,552 
			 North Down 0 15,000 0 81,225 30,000 
			 Omagh 528,645 135,000 70,000 332,490 -51,067 
			 Strabane 258,570 10,429 100,000 112,593 72,500

Teriparitide

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the availability of Teriparitide in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Teriparitide is licensed for the treatment of established osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.
	The decision to prescribe a particular medicine is a matter for clinicians, taking account of the clinical circumstances of the individual patient, a drug's licensed indications and local prescribing policies and commissioning decisions.
	Additional funding of 5 million has been allocated in 200506 for specialist hospital drugs. It is for the health and social services boards, as commissioners of services, to prioritise how funding is used, taking into account the competing demands and pressures in their areas and the strategic objectives and priorities of my Department.
	I understand that boards have not identified funding for Teriparitide in the current financial year but will be keeping this position under review.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Commercial Court

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much funding the Treasury is providing for the improvement of the facilities at the commercial court.

Harriet Harman: My Department will able to give this information when the business case has been received, evaluated and the funding level quantified.

Electoral Administration Bill

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will deposit in the Library copies of the responses received to her Department's consultation paper on the Electoral Administration Bill.

Harriet Harman: We received over 160 responses, within the deadline, to the policy paper on electoral administration which was put out on 25 May this year.
	On 11 October, alongside introduction of the Electoral Administration Bill, we published a paper which detailed and analysed the responses received. Copies of the paper were put into the Libraries of both Houses on that day.

Freedom of Information

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what investigations she has undertaken into whether the Data Protection Act 1998 is being used as a way of preventing governmental information being divulged under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Harriet Harman: Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act limits the applications of the FOI rights of access to personal information by reference to provisions of the DPA. This provision ensures consistency across the FOI and data protection regimes.
	No investigation has been undertaken on the use of S40, however there is no evidence that DPA 1998 is being used a way of preventing information being divulged under FOI, disproportionately to other exemptions or that it has been cited without good reason. Statistics have been published on the implementation of the FOI Act 2000 in central Government which show that in quarter one and quarter two, 22,403 requests have been received. Exemptions have been claimed 3,631 times to refuse information with section 40, being used 930 times. These statistics are available at www.FOI.gov.uk.

Graduated Fees

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent consultations she has had with the General Council of the Bar and the Law Society about the graduated fee payment scheme.

Bridget Prentice: The Lord Chancellor and I meet regularly with representatives of the General Council of the Bar and the Law Society to discuss a range of issues, including the Graduated Fee Scheme.

Legal Deposit Libraries

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Government have produced guidance on the effect of the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 on political parties and their constituent organisations; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: No guidance has been produced on the effect of the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 on political parties or their constituent organisations, nor do we currently intend to issue any guidance.

Lyons Inquiry

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance has been issued to the Lyons Inquiry into local government funding on whether the inquiry is a public authority under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The Lyons Inquiry into local government funding is not a public authority for the purposes of the Act. As an independent organisation it is also not part of any other public authority. A report will be published when the inquiry is complete. Information held by the inquiry will then be transferred to either HM Treasury or ODPM and then will be covered by the Act.

Marked Electoral Registers

Ian Lucas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how the fee payable for delivery of the marked elector register following the 2005 General Election is calculated for each parliamentary constituency.

Harriet Harman: The fees structure for purchasing copies of the marked electoral registers for the 2005 General Election, have been set by the Clerk of the Crown, withagreement by HM Treasury, as required under Rule 57(3) of Schedule 1, The Representation of the People Act 1983.
	They stand at 35p per copied page of A4; an 8handling charge: and, postage and packaging at cost. These fees exclude VAT.

Marked Electoral Registers

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list what representations and complaints her Department has received since the general election in relation to the marked register service provided by Pickfords; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: Seven written representations have been received by my Department. four of these were from MPs: George Madie MP, Lynne Featherstone MP, SirGeorge Young MP and Kevin Jones MP. Two were from political party constituency associations; Selby Conservatives and Poole Liberal Democrats. One representation was received from the electoral services manager for Mansfield, on behalf of a local political party constituency association.

Opinion Surveys

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the (a) subject matter and (b) dates were of opinion survey research undertaken by the Department and its agencies in the last 12 months; if she will place copies of the results of each survey in the Library; which companies were used in conducting the research; and how much each was paid.

Harriet Harman: The information requested is not held centrally A fully comprehensive reply could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Six major studies of public opinion were undertaken on behalf of DCA in the past 12 months, to inform policy development. Each is directly supportive of DCA's objective of putting excellent service to the public at the heart of everything it does, as outlined in the Department's five-year strategy.
	
		
			 Project Completed Cost (000) Company 
		
		
			 1. Courts customer survey February 2005 248 ORC Intl. 
			 2. Engaging with the  criminal justice system March 2005 110 PWC 
			 3. Voters and voting January 2005 69 2CV 
			 4. Information rights February 2005 51 CraggRossDawson 
			 5 .Liverpool justice centre July 2005 40 TNS 
			 6. PGO customer survey January 2005 26 IPSOS 
			 Total  (30)544  
		
	
	(30)Exc. VAT
	Copies of all published results of this research will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses, as they become available.

Postal Voting

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many and what percentage of (a) votes cast in each constituency at the last general election were postal votes and (b) postal votes were disallowed, listed in descending order according to the highest percentage of postal votes disallowed.

Harriet Harman: My Department does not hold this information. The Electoral Commission will be publishing this information as part of their official report on the 2005 General Election, and has indicated that these figures will be published shortly.

Property Repossessions

Peter Robinson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many courtrepossessions of property there were in the last 15 years.

Bridget Prentice: The Enforcement of Judgments Office (EJO) carries out evictions of property on foot of repossession orders.
	Statistics on the number of evictions carried-out by the EJO have been collated since October 2001.
	
		Evictions carried out by Enforcement of Judgments Office
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001(31) 52 
			 2002 106 
			 2003 212 
			 2004 218 
			 2005(32) 177 
		
	
	(31)October to December.
	(32)Up to end of September.

WORK AND PENSIONS

A Helping Hand for MPs

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the total cost was, including man hours of research, of the production of A Helping Hand for MPs by the Health and Safety Executive;
	(2)  what market research was carried out to ascertain whether hon. Members (a) wanted and (b) needed the handbook A Helping Hand for MPs.

Anne McGuire: The decision to produce the handbook was based on various sources of feedback from MPs and their researchers. This included surveys conducted by NFP Synergy on the attitude of MPs towards various non-departmental public bodies. The research indicated that MPs wished to have more contact with HSE, and that health and safety issues were a common theme in constituency correspondence that they deal with. As a result, the handbook was produced to provide an easy source of reference for answers to a typical range of questions about health and safety, and to provide helpful contact details for more information. The total cost of producing the handbook (including HSE staff time) was 12,000. A number of MPs have thanked HSE for the handbook.

Opportunity for All

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will publish the Opportunity for All report for 2005.

David Blunkett: I am today publishing the 7th Opportunity for All report for 2005 and will be launching the report at the End Child Poverty Conference.
	A copy of the 7th Opportunity for All report for 2005 is available in the Library.

Benefits Agency Database

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many independent companies have access to the Benefits Agency database; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Ms Lynne Featherstone, dated 17 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many independent companies have access to the Benefits Agency database. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	It may be helpful if I first explain that Jobcentre Plus came into existence as a national organisation at the beginning of April 2002. The Benefits Agency and Employment Service ceased to exist at the same time.
	Jobcentre Plus takes its responsibilities under the Data Protection Act very seriously and does not allow independent companies access to any benefit databases, or to any other customer information.
	As part of the normal business of Jobcentre Plus, a benefit customer may receive information about national or local initiatives or programmes that may assist them in finding employment, including information from organisations delivering these initiatives and programmes. This contact will be made through Jobcentre Plus only and at no time will an independent company have access to our databases.
	I hope this is helpful.

Cold Weather Payments

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value of the cold weather payment for senior citizens was in the winter of 200304; and what it is for 200506.

James Plaskitt: The total value of cold weather payments in Great Britain for 200304 as reported in the Programme Accounting Computer System was 3.81 million. Of this 2.25 million was paid to those over pensionable age. As cold weather payments are dependent on the average temperature over a set period of time, the value of payments for 200506 cannot be forecast.

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have claimed incapacity benefits in the Birkenhead area in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the table.
	
		Number of incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance claimants in Birkenhead parliamentary constituency;at date shown
		
			 As at February: Number 
		
		
			 1997 9,500 
			 1998 8,900 
			 1999 8,900 
			 2000 8,300 
			 2001 8,600 
			 2002 8,400 
			 2003 8,000 
			 2004 8,200 
			 2005 8,100 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2.Claimants include all incapacity benefit, severe disability allowance and national insurance credits only cases.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on nursery and childcare support for employees of Jobcentre Plus.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Andrew Smith, dated 17 October 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning his policy on nursery and childcare support for employees of Jobcentre Plus. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus currently provides nursery and childcare support in some locations where doing so has helped us address historical difficulties with staff recruitment or retention. The individual business cases behind these arrangements are kept under review.
	In 2006, we will offer a 'salary sacrifice' scheme to all our employees. The salary sacrifice scheme is a Government initiative whereby the employee 'sacrifices' an amount of their salary (to a maximum of 50 per week) which is converted into childcare vouchers for them to use. National insurance contributions and tax are not deducted from the sacrificed amount, allowing the individual to benefit from the scheme.
	More widely, Jobcentre Plus, as part of the Department for Work and Pensions, has policies which support flexible working and which enable our employees to balance their working lives with their caring responsibilities at home. These policies are well used31 % of our staff work on a part time basis, and the majority of them make use of flexible working hours. We also offer the facility for people to work during term time only, and will consider accommodating any flexible working pattern, providing that, in so doing, we are able to meet our responsibility to deliver our services to customers.
	I hope this is helpful.

Outsourced Employment Programmes

Malcolm Rifkind: To ask the Secretary of State forWork and Pensions 
	(1)  what the total management costs of each outsourced Government employment programme have been in each year since their creation;
	(2)  what the management costs of each outsourced Government employment programme has been as a percentage of total costs in each year since their creation.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not available.
	Information on total expenditure on our employment programmes is in the latest departmental report, which is available in the Library.

Shop Workers

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice he has received from the Health and Safety Commission on sickness and absence among retail shop workers; what assessment the Commission has made of the extent to which threats and intimidation from customers play a part in the industry's sickness and absence record; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Information on the level of sickness caused by work-related violence among retail shop workers is not available.
	Incidents of work-related violence which cause a physical injury, and where absence from work is for over three days, are reportable to the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Dangerous Diseases and Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. The number of incidents of work-related violence among shop workers reported under RIDDOR is set out as follows:
	
		
			  Fatal injury Non-fatal major injury Over-3-day injury All reported injuries 
		
		
			 200001  44 233 277 
			 200102 1 60 227 288 
			 200203  57 256 313 
			 200304  56 212 268 
		
	
	The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) is firmly committed to tackling workplace violence, and believes that working in partnership and developing stronger links with stakeholders is the most effective way forward.
	The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been working closely with the Home Office to help reduce the incidence of work-related violence in the retail sector, primarily through HSE's stakeholder group, the Partnership on Work-Related Violence (POW-V). This group is targeting those sectors where there is most risk of violence to staff, including the retail sector, with a view to developing, promoting and sharing information and good practice in managing work-related violence, and making this information fully accessible.
	Both HSE and the Home Office support USDAW's Freedom from Fear campaign which brings together employers, local authorities and the police to help promote the safety and well-being of shop workers.

Unemployment

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of people in Houghton and Washington, East constituency were unemployed in each year since 1997; and what estimate he has made of changes in the amount paid in benefits due to the change in employment over the time period.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the change in the amount paid in benefits due to the change in employment since 1997 is not available at constituency level. In Great Britain it is estimated that, compared to 199697, we are now spending 5 billion a year less on the cost of unemployment related benefits as a result of the increase in employment levels.
	Information on unemployment in Houghton and Washington, East constituency is in the table.
	
		Unemployment in Houghton and Washington, East constituency
		
			   Number of people Proportion of working age population 
		
		
			 1997 2,603 4.7 
			 1998 2,254 4.1 
			 1999 2,475 4.5 
			 2000 2,180 3.9 
			 2001 2,056 3.7 
			 2002 1,823 3.3 
			 2003 1,667 3 
			 2004 1,300 2.3 
			 2005 1,256 2.3 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are claimant count for June of each year.
	Source:
	DWP statistics

HEALTH

Alzheimer's

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions she has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the NHS making available drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I received an update on the progress of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's (NICE) appraisal of drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease during a meeting with NICE'S chair and chief executive on 9 June 2005.

Cancer Treatment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drugs have been in receipt of NHS funding without having been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence appraisal in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Jane Kennedy: All drugs are available via the national health service if considered clinically necessary, regardless of whether they have been the subject of appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Death Certification

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for changing the arrangements for payments that doctors receive in addition to their normal salaries for filling out (a) the form to certify that a deceased body is suitable for cremation and (b) the form to section a patient under the Mental Health Acts; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	The issue of fees for Mental Health Act medical work rests with the Department of Health, and there are no plans for changing the payment arrangements. In relation to cremation certification, we have been looking carefully at how best we can improve the current system and intend to make an announcement as soon as possible.

Death Certification

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many payments for completion of the cremation form have been given to doctors in each of the five years for which records are available.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not held centrally.

Dentistry

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current average waiting time is from first appointment with a dentist to operation for a child in the Avon area whose tooth needs to be removed under general anaesthetic.

Caroline Flint: The Department does not hold this information.

Departmental Land/Property

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target has been set by the Department for (a) land and (b) building disposals in Hampshire in the current financial year, broken down by site.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not have a specific target for land sales in Hampshire. The only property programmed for disposal in Hampshire during 200506, which is in the ownership of the Secretary of State for Health, is land adjacent to South Lodge, St. James' Hospital, Portsmouth. As contracts are in the process of being agreed, the sale price is currently commercially confidential.
	National health service trusts and primary care trusts are responsible for their own disposals.

Departmental Land/Property

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many properties her Department is paying rent for that are empty in (a) Brent East, (b) Brent and (c) London.

Jane Kennedy: There is one empty property in Brent East and a further three in London, none of which are in Brent East or Brent, upon which the Department is currently paying rent. Departmental officials are actively seeking to dispose of them.

Departmental Land/Property

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department's property at 20 Willesden High Road was last in use; how much rent per month is being paid for the property; what plans her Department has for the site; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The property, at 2224 High Road, Willesden, was formerly occupied by Brent community health council and was vacated in December 2003. The current rent paid is 29,375 per annum. The lease expires in June 2011. Having established that there was no national health service interest in the property, attempts have been made to either assign the lease or sub-let. Both have been unsuccessful. A notice to break the lease has been served effective from June 2006negotiations are currently taking place with the landlord seeking an earlier surrender.

Diagnosis Treatment Centres

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has (a) made and (b) received of the productivity of diagnosis treatment centres.

Liam Byrne: The Department published Treatment Centres: Delivering Faster, Quality Care and Choice for NHS Patients, which includes a chapter on productivity, on 7 January 2005.
	The report found that, by investing in dedicated facilities such as treatment centres, it was possible to perform, for example, many more cataract procedures in a given day by concentrating on a single procedure in a modern, purpose-built unit.
	The report is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/10/05/24/04100524.pdf

Doctor Vacancies

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified doctors in England are unemployed; and how many vacancies there are for newly qualified doctors in England.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of qualified doctors who are unemployed and on the number of vacancies for newly qualified doctors is not held centrally.
	A snapshot survey of postgraduate deaneries established that, as at early August 2005, 136 pre-registration house officers (PRHOs) in England did not have a senior house officer (SHO) or equivalent post to move to upon the expiry of their PRHO contract. This number had reduced to around 100 by early September 2005 and is likely to have reduced further as more SHO opportunities become available.

Drug Appraisal

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to speed up the drug appraisal process in England;
	(2)  what steps her Department are taking to improve the efficiency of the drug appraisal process.

Jane Kennedy: We are currently considering proposals from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence for a revised technology appraisal process allowing more rapid appraisal of certain new drugs and health technologies.

Hospital Re-admissions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency re-admissions of people there have been in each quarter since 2001; and how many were of people aged (a) 0 to 10, (b) 10 to 18, (c) 18 to 65, (d) 65 to 75 and (e) 75 years and over.

Liam Byrne: The data are shown in the table. A detailed specification is available at www.nchod.nhs.uk.
	
		Emergency admissions within 28 days of dischargecalendar years 2001 to 2004national health service hospitals, England
		
			  Age 
			 Calendar year quarters 09 1017 1864 6574 75+ Total 
		
		
			 2001   
			 1 January-31 March 14,404 5,159 49,783 19,934 32,224 121,504 
			 1 April-30 June 12,589 5,146 52,301 19,845 32,219 122,100 
			 1 July-30 September 10,904 5,084 54,119 19,815 31,734 121,656 
			 1 October-31 December 13,472 4,794 46,114 17,296 28,056 109,732 
			
			 2002   
			 1 January-31 March 14,705 5,195 51,291 19,556 32,321 123,068 
			 1 April-30 June 12,631 5,559 54,200 20,056 33,586 126,032 
			 1 July-30 September 10,928 5,088 55,084 20,034 34,074 125,208 
			 1 October-31 December 13,418 4,611 45,652 17,493 29,802 110,976 
			
			 2003   
			 1 January-31 March 14,551 5,779 53,164 20,755 35,782 130,031 
			 1 April-30 June 12,335 5,620 57,004 21,502 36,656 133,117 
			 1 July-30 September 11,090 5,511 60,462 21,844 37,576 136,483 
			 1 October-31 December 13,888 5,112 50,393 19,073 33,613 122,079 
			
			 2004   
			 1 January-31 March 15,142 6,141 59,757 22,703 40,583 144,326 
			 1 April-30 June 13,181 6,165 63,495 23,219 41,423 147,483 
			 1 July-30 September 11,598 5,625 66,212 23,382 41,149 147,966 
			 1 October-31 December 14,266 5,093 55,386 19,407 34,770 128,922 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.A finished consultant episode is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	2.Hospital episode statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The Health and Social Care Information Centre liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of correct data.
	Source:
	HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Hospital Re-admissions

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rates of re-admission to hospitals were in (a) England and (b) Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Re-admission data from 199899, which is calculated using the re-admission rate definition,
	emergency re-admissions to hospitals within 28 days of discharge from hospitals,
	is available at www.nchod.nhs.uk, where a full definition is given in the guidance notes.

Hospital Violence

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) consultants and (d) auxiliary staff have been victims of violence at work in the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust area in each of the last 10 years.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 13 October 2005
	This information is not collected at trust level. National data is collected, but this is not broken down by trust. Such information may be held locally by the national health service trust in question, and the hon. Member may wishto approach the Chair of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust directly.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) of 27 June 2005, Official Report, columns 134445W, on Clostridium difficile, in which primary care trust in Bristol the case of Clostridium difficile occurred.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The single isolate of Clostridium difficile was sent by the Bristol Royal Infirmary to the Anaerobe Reference Laboratory in Cardiff, where it was typed as the 027 strain. However, this isolate did not originate in Bristol; it came from the Royal United hospital in Bath.

IVF Treatment

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what action she plans to take in response to the decision by North Hampshire Primary Care Trust not to provide in vitro fertilisation treatment;
	(2)  if she will take steps to ensure other primary care trusts do not follow the decision made by North Hampshire Primary Care Trust not to provide in vitro fertilisation treatment;

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of progress towards the target of one full cycle of IVF treatment for each eligible couple by April.

Caroline Flint: It is for each primary care trust, in liaison with local health bodies and patient groups, to make decisions on the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's guideline on fertility treatment, taking resources and local healthcare priorities into account. The extent to which national health service organisations comply with national guidance is considered by the Healthcare Commission during its review and performance assessment process.

Male Breast Reduction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many male breast reduction operations were carried out in the last year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: There were 61 periods of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider during 200304 of male breast reduction operations provided by the national health service for clinical reasons. These figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year. The Department does not collect figures on male breast reduction operations carried out in the independent sector for cosmetic reasons.

Medical Services (Dudley)

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has allocated for (a) hospital services, (b) general practitioner services and (c) dental services in (i) Dudley North and (ii) the Borough of Dudley in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information is not available in the format requested.
	National health service allocations to Dudley Health Authority, Dudley Beacon and Castle Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Dudley South PCT for hospital services in each year since 199798 and for general practitioner services in each year since 200405 are shown in the tables.
	Funding for general practitioner services and general dental or high street dental services has historically, with some exceptions, been held centrally and not allocated to health authorities (HAs) or PCTs. Funding was demand led, with payments made in response to the services actually provided by general practitioners and dentists. Budgets for hospital and community dental services were set locally by HAs, or latterly PCTs, drawing on their total NHS allocations.
	Following the introduction of the new general practitioner contract, the Department made primary medical services allocations to PCTs in 200405 and 200506. This will become part of PCTs' overall allocations from 200607.
	With the introduction of local commissioning arrangements and a new dental contract for general dental services, the Department will make primary care dental allocations to PCTs from 200607.
	Table 1 shows the allocations made to Dudley HA in 199798 and 199899. The Department made allocations to health authorities from 199697 for hospital and community health services (HCHS).
	
		Table 1: HCHS allocations 199798 to 199899
		
			 Dudley HA  million 
		
		
			 199798 128.2 
			 199899 134.5 
		
	
	Note:
	It is not possible to separate the allocations for hospital services from the allocations for community health services.
	Table 2 shows the unified allocations made to Dudley HA between 19992000 to 200203. The Department made unified allocations to HAs from 19992000 covering HCHS, prescribing and general medical services cash limited.
	
		Table 2: Unified allocations 19992000 to 200203
		
			 Dudley HA  million 
		
		
			 19992000 183.0 
			 200001 200.5 
			 200102 218.8 
			 200203 241.7 
		
	
	Note:
	These services cannot be separately identified. These figures are not comparable with earlier years which cover HCHS only.
	Since 200304, the Department has made allocations to PCTs. Table 3 shows the revenue allocations made to Dudley Beacon and Castle PCT and Dudley South PCT for 200304 to 200506.
	
		Table 3: revenue allocations, 200304 to 200506 --  million
		
			  Dudley Beacon and Castle PCT  Dudley South PCT 
		
		
			 200304 94.6 167.2 
			 200405 104.0 183.3 
			 200506 114.4 200.2 
		
	
	The Department made separate primary medical services allocations to PCTs in 200405 and 200506. Table 4 shows the primary medical services allocations to Dudley Beacon and Castle PCT and Dudley South PCT in 200405 and 200506.
	
		Table 4: Primary medical services allocations 200405 and 200506 --  million
		
			  Dudley Beacon and Castle PCT  Dudley South PCT 
		
		
			 200405 8.2 15.4 
			 200506 8.6 16.4 
		
	
	Note:
	These allocations covered the bulk of the funding for the new general practitioner contract, with the remaining funding for quality being transferred to and then allocated by the NHS Bank.
	In February 2005, the Department announced revenue resource allocations to PCTs for 200607 and 200708. Table 5 shows the revenue allocations to Dudley Beacon and Castle PCT and Dudley South PCT for 200608.
	
		Table 5: Revenue resource allocations 200607 and 200708 --  million
		
			  Dudley Beacon and Castle PCT  Dudley South PCT 
		
		
			 200607 136.1 237.3 
			 200708 149.0 258.0 
		
	
	Note:
	These include primary medical services funding and are not comparable with earlier years.

Methadone

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the costs have been of prescribed methadone for each NHS trust in Greater London in each year since 2001.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not collected in the format requested. However, figures for London primary care trusts (PCTs) from 2001 to 2004, which are the latest available, are shown in the tables. These figures are not comparable as there have been changes to PCT configurations during this period. There were also small amounts of prescribing which could not be allocated to a specific PCT.
	Methadone can be prescribed for suppressing a cough, usually in terminal disease, for analgesia and for treating substance dependence. Figures for each of these are also shown in the tables.
	
		2001Net ingredient cost -- 
		
			  Cough suppressant Analgesia Substance dependence Grand total 
		
		
			 Prescriber name 0309010S0 0407020M0 0410000M0  
			 PCT 
			 Barking and Dagenham 5.22 21,077.58 23,656.19 44,738.99 
			 Barnet 20.97 12,052.70 9,843.57 21,917.24 
			 Bexley 17.78 261.57 1,698.34 1,977.69 
			 Brent Teaching 8.32 115,306.10 59,174.86 174,489.28 
			 Bromley 0 5,206.46 1,226.03 6,432.49 
			 Camden 14.7 6,897.06 37,495.96 44,407.72 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford 0 1,987.98 1,161.72 3,149.70 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 1.04 1,522.58 32,404.59 33,928.21 
			 Croydon 40.73 1,354.88 2,520.08 3,915.69 
			 Ealing 12.59 4,628.05 8,069.92 12,710.56 
			 Enfield 13.64 3,570.60 2,723.57 6,307.81 
			 Greenwich Teaching 5.25 2,505.40 16,132.86 18,643.51 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 34,522.81 29,725.94 64,248.75 
			 Haringey 7.98 2,085.02 12,941.50 15,034.50 
			 Harrow 6.76 9,848.99 20,089.90 29,945.65 
			 Havering 2.08 1,947.00 12,481.10 14,430.18 
			 Hillingdon 12.03 696.57 656.40 1,365.00 
			 Hounslow 0 60.75 3,042.44 3,103.19 
			 Islington 4.65 6,266.5 36,803.36 43,074.51 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 7.01 8,770.65 20,765.94 29,543.60 
			 Kingston 0 1,922.64 11,274.57 13,197.21 
			 Lambeth 0 7,760.51 79,688.02 87,448.53 
			 Lewisham 14.56 3,268.66 36,734.12 40,017.34 
			 Newham 0 566.42 24,741 .97 25,308.39 
			 Redbridge 16.69 1,235.79 1,326.23 2,578.71 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 0 409.22 6,697.05 7,106.27 
			 Southwark 21.13 8,147.70 20,995.84 29,164.67 
			 Sutton and Merton 13.64 5,494.06 872.02 6,379.72 
			 Tower Hamlets 11.07 8,339.35 55,558.90 63,909.32 
			 Waltham, Leyton and Leytonstone 5.2 359.87 1,931.86 2,296.93 
			 Wandsworth 14.61 7,293.75 3,226.66 10,535.02 
			 Westminster 10.61 17,171.61 57,972.13 75,154.35 
		
	
	
		2002Net ingredient cost -- 
		
			  Cough suppressant Analgesia Substance dependence Grand total 
		
		
			 Prescriber name 0309010S0 0407020M0 0410000M0  
			 PCT 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 20,884.24 25,922.01 46,806.25 
			 Barnet 0 11,352.63 8,811.65 20,164.28 
			 Bexley 2.1 320.54 1,897.8 2,220.44 
			 Brent Teaching 20.53 102,668.83 63,723.71 166,413.07 
			 Bromley 5.25 5,510.69 1,674.09 7,190.03 
			 Camden 10.63 6,788.7 35,077.44 41,876.77 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford 0 2,679.95 1,119.77 3,799.72 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 16.31 1,654.66 38,669.2 40,340.17 
			 Croydon 43.15 1,255.14 2,450.35 3,748.64 
			 Ealing 1.05 2,891.94 9,039.39 11,932.38 
			 Enfield 21.03 4,183.25 2,080.29 6,284.57 
			 Greenwich Teaching 6.3 3,462.67 14,344.62 17,813.59 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1.05 13,074.42 24,237.82 37,313.29 
			 Haringey 0 1,702.93 13,462.53 15,165.46 
			 Harrow 0 10,728.04 19,812.41 30,540.45 
			 Havering 0 1,458.89 12,698.78 14,157.67 
			 Hillingdon 22.62 572.21 236.22 831.05 
			 Hounslow 2.11 35.47 3,458.3 3,495.88 
			 Islington 14.72 5,073.73 40,688.79 45,777.24 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 6,458.5 15,582.88 22,041.38 
			 Kingston 6.32 1,069.61 9,280.85 10,356.78 
			 Lambeth 38.96 6,036.64 83,013.53 89,089.13 
			 Lewisham 5.8 495.74 33,407.54 33,909.08 
			 Newham 0 532.74 24,680.67 25,213.41 
			 Redbridge 10.52 1,236.67 1,186.1 2,433.29 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 7.36 974.05 6,650.53 7,631.94 
			 Southwark 14.71 7,121.64 18,270.64 25,406.99 
			 Sutton and Merton 7.89 6,758.15 896.82 7,662.86 
			 Tower Hamlets 1.05 4,654.57 57,214.34 61,869.96 
			 Waltham, Leyton and Leytonstone 0 484.98 911.11 1,396.09 
			 Wandsworth 27.4 7,473.66 2,642.99 10,144.05 
			 Westminster 4.21 21,500.18 76,190.57 97,694.96 
		
	
	
		2003Net ingredient cost -- 
		
			  Cough suppressant Analgesia Substance dependence Grand total 
		
		
			 Prescriber name 0309010S0 0407020M0 0410000M0  
			 PCT 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 25,720.82 23,495.97 49,216.79 
			 Barnet 71.66 10,961.75 9,515.63 20,549.04 
			 Bexley(33) 20.55 277.5 1,177.49 1,475.54 
			 Bexley Care Trust(33) 0 206.11 422.77 628.88 
			 Brent Teaching 22.14 87,830.96 71,269.33 159,122.43 
			 Bromley 8.42 3,211.79 1,438.17 4,658.38 
			 Camden 2.1 5,200.14 29,783.38 34,985.62 
			 Chingford, Wanstead and woodford(34) 2.64 729.51 289.11 1,021.26 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 0 1,424.91 38,069.73 39,494.64 
			 Croydon 45.39 1,306.1 2,842.61 4,194.1 
			 Ealing 1.58 2,031.15 9,558.08 11,590.81 
			 Enfield 12.76 3,115.39 2,593.14 5,721.29 
			 Greenwich Teaching 0 3,501.67 12,485.96 15,987.63 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 7,892.56 22,682.29 30,574.85 
			 Haringey 5.27 1,399.4 12,471.04 13,875.71 
			 Harrow 6.34 8,336.99 20,207.02 28,550.35 
			 Havering 33.71 429.01 15,189.4 15,652.12 
			 Hillingdon 10.54 467.6 620.3 1,098.44 
			 Hounslow 0 47.3 2,814.36 2,861.66 
			 Islington 27.38 4,584.73 44,434.43 49,046.54 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 6,547.65 22,093.46 28,641.11 
			 Kingston 0 364.47 8,507.23 8,871.7 
			 Lambeth 57.32 6,001.38 94,585.87 100,644.57 
			 Lewisham 3.16 708.94 31,251.76 31,963.86 
			 Newham 2.11 770.24 22,433.84 23,206.19 
			 Redbridge 8.43 1,618.67 1,414.34 3,041.44 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 15.76 2,003.26 8,859.84 10,878.86 
			 Southwark 8.02 7,758.46 19,802.77 27,569.25 
			 Sutton and Merton 20.03 6,564.47 872.84 7,457.34 
			 Tower Hamlets 5.27 4,077.15 62,874.97 66,957.39 
			 Waltham Forest(34) 1.05 568.67 1,315.16 1,884.88 
			 Waltham, Leyton and Leytonstone(34) 0 133.56 173.18 306.74 
			 Wandsworth 8.43 7,563.94 5,140.56 12,712.93 
			 Westminster 1.05 23,523.52 92,669.4 116,193.97 
		
	
	(33)In October 2003 Bexley PCT became Bexley Care Trust.
	(34)In April 2003 the three PCTs, Redbridge, Waltham and Chingford, merged to form Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
	
		2004Net ingredient cost -- 
		
			  Cough suppressant Analgesia Substance dependence Grand total 
		
		
			 Prescriber name 0309010S0 0407020M0 0410000M0  
			 PCT 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3.16 17,981.04 23,158.83 41,143.03 
			 Barnet 0 8,482.06 11,926.26 20,408.32 
			 Bexley Care Trust 23.1 249.26 978.84 1,251.2 
			 Brent Teaching 8.42 123,041.96 74,523.11 197,573.49 
			 Bromley 10.5 3,071.54 1,135.68 4,217.72 
			 Camden 0 4,311.48 28,187.31 32,498.79 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 0.53 2,057.32 47,714.69 49,772.54 
			 Croydon 14.73 1,438.06 3,553.17 5,005.96 
			 Ealing 3.16 2,187.05 15,216.96 17,407.17 
			 Enfield 21.05 1,078.55 2,711.58 3,811.18 
			 Greenwich Teaching 17.01 4,504.8 10,643.5 15,165.31 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0 9,005.75 28,204 37,209.75 
			 Haringey 0 1,474.85 11,634.02 13,108.87 
			 Harrow 0 6,142.04 22,921.46 29,063.5 
			 Havering 31.56 450.38 13,244.76 13,726.7 
			 Hillingdon 0 811.18 2,188.7 2,999.88 
			 Hounslow 5.27 30.51 9,647.03 9,682.81 
			 Islington 19.99 4,446.8 45,748.24 50,215.03 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 5,497.62 21,759.26 27,256.88 
			 Kingston 10.54 332.64 7,903.64 8,246.82 
			 Lambeth 6.31 6,883.66 92,719.24 99,609.21 
			 Lewisham 0 956.32 28,919.21 29,875.53 
			 Newham 0 1,006.19 20,405.26 21,411.45 
			 Redbridge 35.84 1,627.32 1,288.38 2,951.54 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 0 3,981.46 11,073.32 15,054.78 
			 Southwark 11.55 6,864.83 24,955.85 31,832.23 
			 Sutton and Merton 24.24 4,403.28 1,010.42 5,437.94 
			 Tower Hamlets 12.63 4,446.28 64,619.93 69,078.84 
			 Waltham Forest 0 322.36 1,503.11 1,825.47 
			 Wandsworth 0 3,802.89 5,822.65 9,625.54 
			 Westminster 0 21,403 102,886.17 124,289.17

Midwives

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to improve the recruitment and retention of midwives in the NHS.

Liam Byrne: A range of initiatives are in place to improve the recruitment and retention of midwives working in the national health service in England. These include improving pay and conditions, encouraging the NHS to become a better, more flexible and diverse employer, help with accessing child care, increasing training, attracting back returners and running national and local recruitment campaigns. As a result of these initiatives, there are over 2,400 more midwives working in the NHS in England than in 1997.

MRSA

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many MRSA infection cases there were in the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust area in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 13 October 2005
	Statistics on meticillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA) figures for April 2000 to March 2001 are not available. The information for MRSA figures at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals National Health Service Trust for the last four years is shown in the table.
	
		
			 April to March Number of MRSA bacteraemia reports 
		
		
			 200102 86 
			 200203 74 
			 200304 107 
			 200405 129

Myasthenia Gravis

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the disease myasthenia gravis; and what plans she has to support those who are diagnosed with this disease.

Liam Byrne: The Government are sympathetic to the needs of patients with myasthenia gravis and the impact this condition can have on their independence and quality of life.
	Patients with myasthenia gravis are able to access a range of national health service and social care services, which are tailored to meet their individual needs, to help them manage their condition. It is for primary care trusts, in consultation with other stakeholders, to determine which services, including those for people with myasthenia gravis, their local populations require and ensure the appropriate provision of these services.
	The national service framework (NSF) for long-term conditions is supporting local sustained improvements in service quality for people with long-term neurological conditions, including myasthenia gravis. The NSF addresses a range of key issues including the need for equitable access to a range of services; good quality information and support for patients and carers; the ability to see a specialist and get the right investigations and diagnosis as quickly as possible.

NHS Direct

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhat the call capacity for NHS Direct has been in each year since it was established; and what the planned call capacity of NHS Direct is in each year until 2010.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 12 July 2005, Official Report, columns 98485W. It is currently forecast that NHS Direct will be answering over eight million calls per year by the end of March 2006. There is no planned call capacity projection beyond 2006.

NHS Trusts

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports she has received regarding prospective deficits in NHS trusts in Oxfordshire; andwhat action her Department has taken to address them.

Caroline Flint: Like all strategic heath authorities (SHAs), Thames Valley provides regular financial reports to the Department. Thames Valley SHA is responsible for delivering overall financial balance for their local health communities, and works with Oxfordshire trusts to bring the position as close as possible to financial balance.

NICE

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to speed up the appraisals of medicines and technologies undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Jane Kennedy: We are currently considering proposals from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence for a revised technology appraisal process allowing more rapid appraisal of certain new drugs and health technologies.

North Bristol NHS Trust

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each of the job titles of staff employed at North Bristol NHS Trust, together with the number of full-time equivalent staff employed in each role.

Caroline Flint: This information is not collected in the format requested. However, the tables show figures for non-medical staff employed at North Bristol National Health Service Trust by area of work and job description and medical staff by grade and speciality.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: non-medical staff employed at North Bristol NHS Trust by area of work and by job description as at 30 September 2004
		
			  Full-time equivalents 
		
		
			 Total Non-Medical Staff 6,040 
			 Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Staff 2,125 
			 Qualified Staff 2,095 
			 ManagerAcute, elderly and general 49 
			 ManagerCommunity services 1 
			 ManagerMaternity services 5 
			 Registered sick children's nursePaediatric nursing 30 
			 Registered midwifeMaternity services 195 
			 School nurse 1 
			 Other 1st levelAcute, elderly and general 1,185 
			 Other 1st levelCommunity psychiatry 1 
			 Other 1st levelCommunity services 0 
			 Other 1st levelEducation staff 8 
			 Other 1st levelMaternity services 13 
			 Other 1st levelPaediatric nursing 15 
			 Other 1st levelSchool nursing 10 
			 Other 2nd levelAcute, elderly  general 547 
			 Other 2nd level Community services 5 
			 Other 2nd levelMaternity services 0 
			 Other 2nd levelPaediatric nursing 21 
			 Other 2nd levelSchool nursing 8 
			   
			 Unqualified Staff 30 
			 Nursery nurseAcute, elderly  general 20 
			 Nursing assistant/ auxiliaryAcute, elderly  general 5 
			 Nursing assistant/ auxiliaryPaediatric nursing 6 
			   
			 Scientific, Therapeutic and Technical Staff 661 
			 Qualified Staff 593 
			 ManagerClinical psychology 2 
			 ManagerDietetics 1 
			 ManagerOccupational therapy 1 
			 ManagerPharmacy 1 
			 ManagerSpeech  language therapy 4 
			 TherapistArt/ music/ drama therapy 1 
			 TherapistDietetics 22 
			 TherapistOccupational therapy 68 
			 TherapistOther scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 10 
			 TherapistPhysiotherapy 111 
			 TherapistRadiography (diagnostic) 110 
			 TherapistSpeech  language therapy 43 
			 ScientistClinical psychology 31 
			 ScientistOther scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 1 
			 ScientistPharmacy 42 
			 Scientific officerPharmacy 2 
			 TechnicianClinical psychology 3 
			 TechnicianDental 4 
			 TechnicianOperating theatres 70 
			 TechnicianOther scientific, therapeutic and technical staff 1 
			 TechnicianPharmacy 59 
			 Instructor/teacherOccupational therapy 7 
			   
			 Unqualified Staff 68 
			 Assistant PractitionerClinical psychology 5 
			 Helper/ assistantChiropody/Podiatry 0 
			 Helper/ assistantOccupational therapy 11 
			 Helper/ assistantPharmacy 14 
			 Helper/ assistantPhysiotherapy 9 
			 Helper/ assistantRadiography (diagnostic) 21 
			 Helper/ assistantSpeech  language therapy 7 
			 Student/ traineePharmacy 1 
			   
			 Healthcare Scientists 520 
			 Qualified Staff 367 
			 Consultant Clinical Scientist(Grade C) Clinical  Biochemistry 1 
			 ManagersGenetics 1 
			 Clinical Scientist (Grade A  B)Cardiology 1 
			 Clinical Scientist (Grade A  B)Clinical Biochemistry 7 
			 Clinical Scientist (Grade A  B)Cyto/Histopathology 1 
			 Clinical Scientist (Grade A  B)Genetics 60 
			 Clinical Scientist (Grade A  B)Haematology including  Transfusion Science 1 
			 Clinical Scientist (Grade A  B)Maxillofacial Prosthetics 1 
			 Clinical Scientist (Grade A  B)Microbiology 11 
			 Clinical Scientist (Grade A  B)Other Life Sciences 1 
			 Clinical Scientist (Grade A  B)Radiotherapy Physics 2 
			 MLSO/Biomedical ScientistClinical Biochemistry 47 
			 MLSO/Biomedical ScientistCyto/Histopathology 30 
			 MLSO/Biomedical ScientistGenetics 2 
			 MLSO/Biomedical ScientistHaematology including  Transfusion Science 35 
			 MLSO/Biomedical ScientistMicrobiology 32 
			 MLSO/Biomedical ScientistOther Life Sciences 5 
			 MTO/TechnicianAudiology 15 
			 MTO/TechnicianCardiology 9 
			 MTO/TechnicianCyto/Histopathology 5 
			 MTO/TechnicianEquipment Management   Development 21 
			 MTO/TechnicianGenetics 5 
			 MTO/TechnicianNeurophysiology 11 
			 MTO/TechnicianOther Healthcare Science Professions 1 
			 MTO/TechnicianOther Life Sciences 12 
			 MTO/TechnicianOther Physical Sciences 1 
			 MTO/TechnicianRehabilitation Engineering 39 
			 MTO/TechnicianRenal Dialysis 8 
			 Cyto-screenerCyto/Histopathology 2 
			   
			 Unqualified Staff 153 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantAudiology 2 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantCardiology 13 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantClinical Biochemistry 13 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantCyto/Histopathology 26 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantGenetics 2 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantHaematology including  Transfusion Science 5 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantMicrobiology 6 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantNeurophysiology 3 
			 MLA/ATO/Assistant OtherHealthcare Science  Professions 47 
			 MLA/ATO/Assistant Other Life Sciences 12 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantRehabilitation Engineering 5 
			 MLA/ATO/AssistantRenal Dialysis 3 
			 Student/TraineeClinical Biochemistry 8 
			 Student/TraineeCyto/Histopathology 7 
			 Student/TraineeHaematology including Transfusion  Science 2 
			   
			 Administration and Estates Staff 1,376 
			 Senior managerCentral functions 53 
			 Senior managerClinical support 4 
			 Senior managerHotel  property 4 
			 Senior managerScientific, therapeutic  technical support 1 
			 ManagerCentral functions 63 
			 ManagerClinical support 24 
			 ManagerHotel  property 10 
			 ManagerScientific, therapeutic  technical support 3 
			 Clerical  administrativeCentral functions 687 
			 Clerical  administrative Clinical support 278 
			 Clerical  administrativeHotel, property  estates 52 
			 Clerical  administrative Scientific, therapeutic  technical  support 102 
			 Estates (Maintenance  works)Hotel, property  estates 94 
			   
			 Healthcare Assistants and Other Support Staff 1,358 
			 HCAAcute, elderly, general 692 
			 HCACommunity services 4 
			 HCAMaternity 42 
			 HCAPaediatrics 29 
			 HCASpeech  language therapy 1 
			 Support workerAcute, elderly, general 29 
			 Support workerCentral functions 129 
			 Support workerCommunity services 1 
			 Support workerHotel, property  estates 413 
			 Support workerMaternity 7 
			 Support workerRadiography 12 
		
	
	Note:
	Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census 2004.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) medical and dental staff: within North Bristol NHS Trust by grade and specialty
		
			 As at 30 September 2004 Full-time equivalents 
		
		
			 All medical and dental staff 675 
			 Of which:  
			 Consultant 243 
			 Accident and emergency 7 
			 Anaesthetics (inc. Intensive care) 54 
			 Cardiology 6 
			 Chemical pathology 2 
			 Child and adolescent psychiatry 4 
			 Clinical neurophysiology 2 
			 Clinical radiology 21 
			 Endocrinology and diabetes mellitus 3 
			 Gastroenterology 4 
			 General Psychiatry 4 
			 General surgery 15 
			 Geriatric medicine 7 
			 Haematology 4 
			 Histopathology 10 
			 Immunology 3 
			 Infectious diseases 1 
			 Medical microbiology  virology 5 
			 Neurology 6 
			 Neurosurgery 9 
			 Obstetrics and gynaecology 8 
			 Oral  maxillo facial surgery 3 
			 Otolaryngology 5 
			 Paediatrics 16 
			 Palliative medicine 3 
			 Plastic surgery 9 
			 Renal medicine 7 
			 Respiratory medicine 5 
			 Rheumatology 5 
			 Trauma and orthopaedic surgery 12 
			 Urology 5 
			   
			 Associate Specialist/ Staff Grade 34 
			 Accident and emergency 4 
			 Anaesthetics (inc. Intensive care) 4 
			 Chemical pathology 1 
			 Child and adolescent psychiatry 1 
			 General Psychiatry 2 
			 General surgery 2 
			 Haematology 1 
			 Histopathology 1 
			 Infectious diseases 1 
			 Neurology 1 
			 Obstetrics and gynaecology 2 
			 Oral  maxillo facial surgery 1 
			 Otolaryngology 1 
			 Paediatrics 6 
			 Plastic surgery 1 
			 Trauma and orthopaedic surgery 2 
			 Urology 2 
			 ZZ Other 5 
			   
			 Registrar Group 162 
			 Accident and emergency 6 
			 Anaesthetics (inc. Intensive care) 20 
			 Cardiology 2 
			 Chemical pathology 1 
			 Child and adolescent psychiatry 2 
			 Clinical radiology 4 
			 Endocrinology and diabetes mellitus 2 
			 Gastroenterology 3 
			 General surgery 12 
			 Geriatric medicine 5 
			 Haematology 2 
			 Histopathology 6 
			 Immunology 2 
			 Medical microbiology  virology 4 
			 Neurology 4 
			 Neurosurgery 7 
			 Obstetrics and gynaecology 13 
			 Oral  maxillo facial surgery 1 
			 Otolaryngology 5 
			 Paediatrics 15 
			 Palliative medicine 2 
			 Plastic surgery 9 
			 Renal medicine 7 
			 Respiratory medicine 6 
			 Rheumatology 2 
			 Trauma and orthopaedic surgery 12 
			 Urology 9 
			   
			 Senior House Officer 188 
			 Accident and emergency 11 
			 Anaesthetics (inc. Intensive care) 25 
			 Child and adolescent psychiatry 1 
			 General surgery 16 
			 Geriatric medicine 1 
			 Medical microbiology  virology 2 
			 Neurology 8 
			 Neurosurgery 4 
			 Obstetrics and gynaecology 16 
			 Oral  maxillo facial surgery 5 
			 Otolaryngology 7 
			 Paediatrics 15 
			 Plastic surgery 9 
			 Renal medicine 8 
			 Rheumatology 1 
			 Trauma and orthopaedic surgery 21 
			 Urology 3 
			 ZZ Other 36 
			   
			 House Officer 43 
			 General surgery 11 
			 Paediatrics 1 
			 Trauma and orthopaedic surgery 4 
			 Urology 2 
			 ZZ Other 25 
			   
			 Hospital Practitioner /Clinical Assistant 4 
			 Accident and emergency 0 
			 General surgery 0 
			 Neurology 1 
			 Obstetrics and gynaecology 0 
			 Trauma and orthopaedic surgery 0 
			 Urology 1 
			 ZZ Other 2 
			   
			 Other CHS Staff 2 
			 Paediatrics 1 
			 Public health medicine 2 
		
	
	Note:
	'0' denotes less than one, more than zero.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental workforce census.

Pregnancy (Low-lying Placenta)

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment (a) she and (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have made of the merits of providing pregnant women at risk with a low lying placenta screening for vasa praevia concurrently with their standard ultrasound examination;
	(2)  what research her Department has undertaken into the early diagnosis of vasa praevia in (a) all pregnant women and (b) pregnant women with a low-lying placenta; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  if she will meet the Burton Hospital Trust to discuss their procedures for the diagnosis of vasa praevia in pregnant women;
	(4)  what discussions she has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence with regard to the diagnosis of vasa praevia in pregnant women; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: As vasa praevia is a very rare condition and technically difficult to detect, even for a highly skilled ultrasonographer with the appropriate specialist equipment (a colour Doppler scanner), routine screening of all pregnant women for vasa praevia is not currently advocated by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Neither the national screening committee nor the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) have made any assessments into screening for this condition.
	The Department has not undertaken any research into the early diagnosis of vasa praevia.
	I currently have no plans to meet the Burton Hospital Trust to discuss their procedures for the diagnosis of vasa praevia in pregnant women. This is an issue for the trust, which should be informed by best medical practice.
	The Department has not had any discussions with NICE with regard to the diagnosis of vasa praevia in pregnant women. We have no plans to refer the topic of vasa praevia to NICE at this time.

Prescriptions (Pre-payment Certificates)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pre-payment certificates for prescriptions have been issued in London in each of the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of pre-payment certificates (PPCs) issued for London is not separately identifiable. However, the number of PPCs issued for England, by month for each of the last 12 months is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Month Number of PPCs 
		
		
			 2004 October 92,845 
			 2004 November 83,363 
			 2004 December 73,876 
			 2005 January 95,978 
			 2005 February 81,638 
			 2005 March 125,477 
			 2005 April 97,265 
			 2005 May 82,803 
			 2005 June 96,670 
			 2005 July 91,852 
			 2005 August 83,077 
			 2005 September 86,549

Pressure Sores

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of progress against the NHS targets of a 5 per cent. reduction in incidence of pressure sores per annum; what figures she has collected on the incidence of pressure sores since instigation of the target; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 231W.

Primary Care Trusts

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial outturn for each primary care trust in England was in 200405; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The 200405 final outturn figures for each primary care trust in England have been placed in the Library. These figures have been taken from the 200405 final accounts.

Primary Care Trusts

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1) how many primary care trusts that inherited deficits of (a) 1 million to 1.999 million, (b) 2 million to 2.999 million, (c) 3 million to 3.999 million, (d) 4 million to 4.999 million and (e) over 5 million from their primary care groups have since come out of deficit; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what deficit each primary care trust in England inherited from its primary care group; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Information on any deficits inherited by primary care trusts from primary care groups is not collected centrally.

Primary Care Trusts

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total funding of primary care organisations has been in each year since 2001, broken down by Government office region; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, columns 798800W, on the private finance initiative, what total value of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is recorded on the Government Balance Sheet; what proportion of assets and liabilities is listed; what the accounting treatment is for assets and liabilities; and whether it is compatible with (a) generally-accepted accounting practices and (b) international financial reporting standards.

Liam Byrne: National health service accountants and their auditors, who are independent, determine the correct accounting treatment of their organisations' private finance initiative (PFI)/public-private partnership deals by applying independently set United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UKGAAP).
	In particular, accountants are required to apply FRS5, Reporting the Substance of Transactions and SSAP21, Leases and Hire Purchase Contracts, and are directed to these standards by chapter eight of the NHS capital accounting manual. Their conclusions are checked through the mandatory independent audit of trust and primary care trust (PCT) financial statements.
	National accounts, upon which the fiscal rules are judged, follow the same UKGAAP accounting treatment. Where an asset is provided under a contract that is judged as being off-balance sheet (for example, through a PFI contract or operating lease) then the capital value is not included in measures of public spending but the annual payments do score as public expenditure.
	International accounting standards are not currently applicable to the UK public sector, though the financial reporting advisory board is keeping this position under review.
	The answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, columns798800W, listed schemes of three different types; PFI, NHS local improvement finance trust (LIFT) and independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs), each being a very different type of transaction.
	PFI schemes
	On the list, five schemes are judged as being on-balance sheet and will appear on their trusts' balance sheets. Individual NHS trust accounts are not currently consolidated within the Department's resource accounts. NHS trust accounts are, however, brought together in the NHS trust summarised account, which is audited and published by the National Audit Office.
	The amounts capitalised are listed in the table. On the opposite side of each trust's balance sheet, there is a corresponding creditor representing amounts expected to be payable in the future.
	
		
			 Commissioning body Source Capital value on balance sheet (000) 
		
		
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 200405 accounts 44,562 
			 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 200405 accounts 114,909 
			 Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup NHS  Trust 200405 accounts 4,500 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS  Trust Estimated 42,473 
			 Oxleas NHS Trust 200405 accounts 17,612 
		
	
	NHS LIFT schemes
	In NHS LIFT schemes, facilities to be made available to the NHS are owned by a local LIFT company and, in accordance with the accounting standards, NHS accountants and their independent auditors treat them as off balance sheet.
	The Department does, however, own a small amount of equity in local LIFT companies through PCTs. Amounts of equity listed in PCTs' accounts are listed in the table. In this case, the corresponding creditor is to the general fund.
	
		
			  PCTs owning equity Amount (000) 
		
		
			 Operational NHS LIFT schemes   
			 Barnsley Barnsley PCT 143 
			
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 606 
			
			 Norfolk North Norfolk PCT 014 
			  Southern Norfolk PCT 014 
			  West Norfolk PCT 014 
			
			 Newcastle and North Tyne Newcastle PCT 136 
			  North Tyneside PCT 097 
			
			 East Lancashire Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT 353 
			  Hyndburn and Ribble Valley PCT 352 
			  Blackburn and Darwen PCT 352 
			
			 Rowley Regis and Tipton PCT  102 
			
			 Wednesbury and West Bromwich PCT  102 
			
			 Oldbury and Smethwick PCT  102 
			
			 Barking and Havering Barking and Dagenham PCT 202 
			  Havering PCT 202 
			
			 Liverpool and Sefton South Sefton PCT 044 
			  North Liverpool PCT 050 
			  South Liverpool PCT 050 
			  Central Liverpool PCT 050 
			
			 NHS LIFT schemes under construction   
			 Camden and Islington Camden PCT 031 
			  Islington PCT 092 
			
			 Manchester, Salford and Trafford Salford PCT 050 
			  South Manchester PCT 264 
			  Trafford North PCT 088 
			
			 Birmingham and Solihull Eastern Birmingham PCT 039 
			  Heart of Birmingham PCT 040 
			  North Birmingham PCT 039 
			  South Birmingham PCT 040 
			  Solihull PCT 042 
			 Bradford Bradford City PCT 112 
			  Airedale PCT 112 
			  Bradford South and West PCT 112 
			
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly West of Cornwall PCT 001 
			  Central Cornwall PCT 041 
			  North and East Cornwall PCT 047 
			
			 Hull East Hull PCT 222 
			  West Hull PCT 239 
			
			 Leicester City Leicester City West PCT 136 
			  Eastern Leicester PCT 136 
			
			 North Staffordshire North Stoke PCT 050 
			  South Stoke PCT 087 
			  Staffs Moorlands PCT 003 
			  Newcastle-under-Lyme 003 
			
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest Redbridge PCT 210 
			  Waltham Forest PCT 210 
			
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Haringey PCT 007 
			  Enfield PCT 001 
			  Barnet PCT 000 
			
			 Brent, Harrow and Hillingdon Brent PCT 074 
			  Hillingdon PCT 074 
			
			 Bristol Bristol South and West PCT 155 
			  Bristol North PCT 155 
			
			 Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich Bromley PCT 146 
			  Bexley PCT 146 
			  Greenwich PCT 170 
			
			 Colchester and Tendring Colchester PCT 175 
			  Tendring PCT 175 
			
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow Ealing PCT 213 
			  Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 213 
			  Hounslow PCT 212 
			
			 East Hampshire, Fareham and Gosport East Hampshire PCT 091 
			  Fareham and Gosport PCT 091 
			
			 Greater Nottingham Gedling PCT 186 
			  Nottingham PCT 221 
			  Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT 283 
			  Rushcliffe PCT 001 
			
			 Leeds Leeds West PCT 042 
			  Leeds North West PCT 042 
			  Leeds North East PCT 042 
			  East Leeds PCT 045 
			  South Leeds PCT 042 
			
			 Oldham Oldham PCT 057 
			
			 Oxford City Oxford PCT 410 
			
			 Plymouth Plymouth PCT 392 
			
			 Southern Derbyshire Derby Dales and South Derbyshire PCT 070 
			  Amber Valley PCT 070 
			  Erewash PCT 070 
			  Greater Derby PCT 070 
			  Central Derby PCT 070 
			
			 St. Helens and Knowsley St. Helens PCT 090 
			  Knowsley PCT 090 
			  Halton PCT 090 
			  Warrington PCT 096 
			 Tees Valley Middlesbrough PCT 001 
			  Hartlepool PCT 001 
			  North Tees PCT 123 
			  Durham Dales PCT 001 
			
			 Wolverhampton Wolverhampton PCT 184 
			  Walsall PCT 115 
		
	
	ISTCs
	ISTC contracts principally involve the provision of health services to NHS patients, with the capital investment being largely incidental.
	The estimated capital costs of the schemes listed in the answer of 20 June sum to around 228 million and are funded by the private sector. Under the relevant accounting standards, these schemes are generally viewed as on-balance sheet. Capital costs will therefore appear as assets on the commissioning authorities' balance sheets, with a corresponding creditor representing amounts that may become due to the private sector.

Protection of Vulnerable People

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) referrals, (b) provisional listings and (c) confirmed listings have been made to the (i)Protection of Children Act and (ii) Protection of Vulnerable Adults list since it was established.

Liam Byrne: The figures for referrals, provisional listings and confirmed listings made to the protection of vulnerable adults (POVA) since they were established are shown in the table. Responsibility for referrals to the Protection of Children Act list rests with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
	
		
			  POVA 
		
		
			 Number of referrals 2,520 
			   
			 Provisional listings 710 
			 Of which:  
			 Primary(35) 642 
			 Secondary(36) 68 
			   
			 Confirmed listings 197 
			 Of which:  
			 Primary(35) 97 
			 Secondary(36) 100 
		
	
	(35)Primary listings are those made direct to the POVA list.
	(36)Secondary listings are cross-referrals from the Protection of Children Act list to the POVA list.
	Note:
	As at 31 August 2005
	818 cases have been closed either because the referral was inappropriate, or because they did not meet the criteria for listing.
	795 cases are being actively considered for listing.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Carbon Emissions

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the effect on UK carbon emissions of the switch in electricity generation from gas to coal during the winter of 200405.

Malcolm Wicks: Total coal generation during the three coldest months of 200405 increased by around 1.2TWh compared with the same period a year earlier. Generation from gas fell by a similar amount. A switch of generation of this size would be equivalent to an increase in CO 2 emissions of 0.2MtC, or approximately 0.1 per cent. of current annual UK emissions.

Clean Coal Technology

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been commissioned by his Department into clean coal technology and carbon sequestration since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: A considerable amount of research has been commissioned by the Department since 1997 on clean coal technology and carbon sequestration. The results of this work, with copies of the studies undertaken, can be found at the Cleaner Fossil Fuel Technology's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/cfft/index.shtml. The culmination of this research has resulted in the publication of the Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy for Fossil Fuel Use which was published on 14 June 2005. Copies of this are available in the Libraries of the House as well as on the website above. At the time of the strategy's publication I also announced some 25 million in capital grants for a demonstration of carbon abatement technologies. We expect to identify suitable demonstration projects early in 2006.

Copyright

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent developments there have been in his policy on the extension of the term of copyright protection granted in the EU to the creators of sound recordings; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The issue of term of protection for sound recordings is complex and is harmonized at EU level, so any changes would need to be agreed at that level. With this in mind, the Government have agreed to commission a study into the optimal term of protection for sound recordings and performers' rights. We are in the final stages of agreeing terms of reference and appointing an appropriate person to lead the study and hope it will be under way shortly. Once we have the results of the study we will be in a position to make decisions on the correct policy for the UK.

Dynamic Teleswitch Meters

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many dynamically teleswitched meters there are in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

Malcolm Wicks: There are 228,000 Dynamically Switched Meters (DSMs) in Scotland. No data is available for England and Wales.

Dynamic Teleswitch Meters

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure consumers with dynamically teleswitched meters are able to choose their electricity supplier; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The regulation of electricity metering is the responsibility of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). I understand that the Chief Executive of OFGEM will write directly to my hon. Friend about this issue.

Electricity/Gas Supplies

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the UK's electricity supply is projected to come from gas by 2010; and what percentage of the gas needed is expected to be supplied by each country from which gas is expected to be imported in 2010.

Malcolm Wicks: According to the latest DTI energy projections, around 41 per cent. of electricity supply could be provided by natural gas in 2010.
	The Department does not make estimates of gas import needs for individual sectors such as power stations. Its most recent assessment of gas import needs for the whole economy is that by 2010 around a third of annual UK demand is likely to be met by imported gas. A variety of potential sources of supply are expected to be available by 2010including pipelines from Norway, Belgium, The Netherlands and facilities to receive cargoes of liquefied natural gas which could originate from several producing countriesbut the ultimate sources of that gas will be for the market to determine.

Energy Prices

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the change in energy prices has been in (a) the UK and (b) the rest of the EU in each of the last 10 years; on factors account for those changes; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Energy prices for the EU15 and the UK in cash terms for the last 10 years is as follows.
	
		Industrial and domestic gas and electricity prices in the UK and the EU15 19952004 -- Pence per kWh(38)
		
			 Including taxes(37) 
			  Industrial Electricity Industrial Gas Domestic Electricity Domestic Gas 
			  UK Rest of EU Median(39) UK Rest of EU Median(39) UK Rest of EU Median (39) UK Rest of EU Median(39) 
		
		
			 1995 4.34 4.73 0.69 0.88 8.06 10.65 1.79 2.60 
			 1996 4.19 4.67 0.51 0.93 8.04 10.88 1.80 2.58 
			 1997 3.95 3.87 0.54 0.84 7.64 8.86 1.78 2.24 
			 1998 3.92 3.74 0.56 0.77 7.29 9.30 1.72 2.14 
			 1999 3.94 3.51 0.57 0.74 7.20 8.31 1.71 2.04 
			 2000 3.66 2.99 0.61 0.98 7.06 7.90 1.66 2.04 
			 2001 3.53 3.56 0.86 1.08 6.99 7.85 1.71 2.20 
			 2002 3.46 3.24 0.84 1.04 7.02 8.03 1.82 2.18 
			 2003 3.35 3.99 0.87 1.20 7.09 8.81 1.85 2.64 
			 2004 3.66 5.07 0.95 1.25 7.52 9.57 1.99 2.56 
			 Difference 19952004 per cent. -15.7 +7.2 +37.7 +42.9 -6.7 -10.1 +11.2 -1.5 
		
	
	(37)Prices include all taxes where not refundable on purchase
	(38)Prices converted to pounds sterling using annual average exchange rates
	(39)Based on the remaining 14 EU member countries excluding accession countries.
	Note:
	Where national prices are not available, data for the following cities have been used instead: Austria: Vienna, France: Paris, Germany: Dusseldorf, Greece: Athens, Ireland: Dublin, Netherlands: Rotterdam, Portugal: Lisbon, Spain: Madrid
	Source:
	Derived from the International Energy Agency publication, Energy Prices and Taxes Q2 2005

Energy Prices

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to help businesses cope with increased energy prices.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government take the recent increases in energy prices very seriously, and particularly their impact on the competitiveness of UK industry. In January this year my Department set up the Gas Prices Working Group with the Energy Intensive Users' Group and Ofgem, with the remit of examining the workings of the gas market and developing ideas for improving its operation. The group has now agreed a list of action points for the short to medium term, such as maximising gas supplies, encouraging demand side response and pursuing energy market liberalisation in the EU.
	Gas is a substantial component of the UK fuel mix in electricity generation, so the movement in the gas price is probably the largest factor behind electricity price increases. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is also having an impact on electricity prices. We recognise that some business stakeholders have argued for greater simplicity and streamlining of instruments aimed at the business sector in the wake of the EU ETS. This will be an important consideration in the Government's deliberations during the current review of the climate change programme.

Energy Prices

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average cost in the United Kingdom is of 900 litres of home heating oil; and what that figure was in 200304.

Malcolm Wicks: The average cost of 900 litres of standard grade burning oil in August 2005 was 288.72. This compares with 158.13 in 2003 and 191.34 in 2004.

Energy Research

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Government has provided for research into non-hydrocarbon energies, broken down by type, since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given on 1 September 2005, Official Report, column 2263W to the hon. Member for Leominster (BillWiggin).

Ethanol

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the contribution which the production of ethanol can make to meeting UK energy requirements in the context of a sustained higher price for oil.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 13 October 2005
	The department has, alongside other government departments, been assessing the feasibility of options to introduce bioethanol as a transport fuel extender in the context of meeting the requirements of the EU biofuels directive, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and more general security of fuel supply. The above study will feed into the government's Climate Change Program Review due to report by year end.

Gas-powered Energy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the proportion of gas-powered energy generation that will come from (a) natural gas and (b) liquid natural gas in (i) five years, (ii) 10 years and (iii) 20 years.

Malcolm Wicks: DTI projections do not distinguish between natural gas and LNG. The percentages of electricity projected to be supplied in the UK from gas-fired power stations in the years 2010, 2015 and 2020 are 41 per cent., 47 per cent. and 58 per cent. respectively. The latest DTI energy projections are available electronically at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep_addendum.pdf

Gas-powered Energy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the operational liquid natural gas importation terminals in the UK; and what the capacity of each is.

Malcolm Wicks: A liquid natural gas import terminal at the Isle of Grain, on the Thames Estuary, was commissioned this summer; it has the capacity to import approximately 13 mcm/day. Two further LNG import terminals are under development at Milford Haven; details are to be found in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's First Report to Parliament on Security of Gas and Electricity Supply in Great Britain, published in July 2005, and available on the DTI web-site at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/publications/policy/sec_supply_first_report.pdf.

Gas-powered Energy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the required liquid natural gas importation capacity for the UK over the next (a) five and (b) 15 years.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK will require increasing amounts of imported gas as production form the North Sea declines. However, it a commercial matter for individual companies to decide whether to import gas through liquefied natural gas import terminals or through pipelines.
	The Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group monitors predicted supply and demand for gas up to 2013. This is reported in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's First Report to Parliament on Security of Gas and Electricity Supply in Great Britain, published in July 2005. It is available on the DTI website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energv/publications/policy/sec_supply_first_report;pdf.

Graveney Sub-station

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department has discussed with London Array Ltd. the proposed electricity sub-station at Graveney; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Officials in the Department have had discussions with London Array Ltd on a range of issues connected with proposals for a wind farm in the Thames Estuary including the timing of possible outages associated with the proposed substation, should planning permission be obtained. Planning permission for the proposed substation is, however, a matter for the relevant local planning authority.

Ministerial Advice

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that (a) he and (b) the Energy Minister has access to advice on energy matters from sources other than his officials.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend and I draw advice about energy matters from a wide range of sources. The Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board was set up shortly after publication of the Energy White Paper to give expert independent advice to Ministers on energy policy. Notes of their membership and their discussions are available on the Department's website.
	There are similarly a range of other bodies and groups that provide us with advice on more specific areas of energy policy, such as the Renewables Advisory Board; the Coal Authority; the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; the oil and gas industry/Government forum, PILOT; Ofgem and Energywatch to name a few.
	We also occasionally commission specific studies from experts in the private sector according to need, for example those that informed the recent Renewables Innovation Review which are also available on the Department's website.

North Sea Energy Industry

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to extend oil and gas production in the North Sea beyond 2020.

Malcolm Wicks: We are implementing a range of initiatives to maintain North Sea investment and activity and prolong the life of the UK Continental Shelf to 2020 and beyond, many of these in co-operation with PILOT, the oil and gas task force. Initiatives currently include enhancing the licensing regime, improving the commercial climate and access to infrastructure, freeing up fallow acreage, and finding ways to maximise production from existing brown fields. We are seeing successes, but must not be complacent. We will therefore continue to work with the industry to find ways to meet all the challenges which emerge as the province continues to mature.

North Sea Energy Industry

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs are estimated to be directly dependent upon North Sea energies industries.

Malcolm Wicks: Current estimates indicate that North Sea energy industries support around 260,000 UK jobs, of which some 30,000 are directly employed by oil and gas exploration and production companies.

Nuclear Energy

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department spent on research into nuclear energy technologies in (a) 2005 and (b) each of the previous five years.

Malcolm Wicks: The expenditure on nuclear energy technology research from 1999 to 2005 is set out in the tables as follows.
	Nuclear spend 200005 fission and fusion RD
	Expenditure by the EPSRC on nuclear fission research are given in the table as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Nuclear fission ( million) 
		
		
			 19992000 62,000 
			 200001 128,000 
			 200102 325,000 
			 200203 307,000 
			 200304 212,000 
			 200405 125,000 
		
	
	Figures for direct Government expenditure (but not including spending by the Research Councils) on nuclear fission are given in the table as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Nuclear fission ( million) 
		
		
			 19992000 2.5 
			 200001 0 
			 200102 2 
			 200203 2.1 
			 200304 2.1 
			 200405 2.2 
		
	
	Note:
	Expenditure in support of Meteorological Office emergency response arrangements currently accounts for approximately 2.1 million.
	Figures for nuclear fusion RD are given in the table as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Nuclear fusion ( million) 
		
		
			 19992000 14.3 
			 200001 17.0 
			 200102 14.4 
			 200203 14.6 
			 200304 15.6 
			 200405 19.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures from 19992000 to 200102 are from the Fusion Programme Letter funded by DTI and for 200203 and 200304 are the allocations from OST and EPSRC.
	2.The peak in 200001 were due to changes in invoicing arrangements.
	3.The UK's indirect contribution to the European fusion programme, via central European Union funding for the EURATOM Framework Programme, is excluded.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the costs of security for UK civil nuclear reactors was in each year since 1975, broken down by the costs of (a) hiring private sector security personnel to protect reactor facilities, (b) mobilising UK armed forces and police forces to protect reactor facilities, (c) testing the security of reactor facilities, (d) monitoring the security of reactor facilities and (e) assessing the security of reactor facilities.

Malcolm Wicks: Such cost figures are not collated centrally. Responsibility for security measures, and for meeting their costs, rests with the operators. Responsibility for ensuring that nuclear operators provide adequate and robust security is regulated by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security. The costs of this regulation, borne by the industry, can be found in the Director of Civil Nuclear Security's recently published fourth annual report, which is available in the Libraries of the House.
	The ownership and management arrangements for civil nuclear reactors, as well as the number in operation, have changed significantly since 1975. The arrangements and the organisations involved in assuring and monitoring civil nuclear security have also changed. Importantly, the threat, especially from terrorism, has changed. Security measures and procedures have had to adapt to meet the changing situation.

Nuclear Power

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects a White Paper to be issued on the future of nuclear power in the United Kingdom.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced that the Government would bring forward proposals on energy policy next year. The analysis of options will include an assessment of civil nuclear power. Government have stated that before any decision to proceed with the building of new nuclear power stations, there would need to be the fullest public consultation and the publication of a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list EU countries (a) which have indicated a commitment to an increase in the number of nuclear fission plants and (b) which have a policy to phase out nuclear power generation.

Malcolm Wicks: Finland and France have announced their intention to build new reactors, but we do not hold information on the current policy of other member states.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department will require the Department for Trade and Industry to segregate accounts relating to (a) commercial activities and (b) decommissioning activities of the nuclear power sectors.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 13 October 2005
	The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) assumed responsibility for the decommissioning and clean up of the UK's civil nuclear legacy on 1 April 2005 and has responsibility for nuclear sites (20 in all) previously operated by UKAEA and BNFL. The NDA's funding is about 2.2 billion per annum: half of this is from Her Majesty's Treasury and half commercial income derived from continued plant operations (Magnox nuclear power stations, fuel production and nuclear fuel reprocessing at Sellafield). The NDA will ensure transparency in its accounts for 200506 in respect of nuclear clean up, and commercial activities. Information relating to British Energy and British Nuclear Fuels plc is set out in their respective accounts which follow UK GAAP disciplines.

Nuclear Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the lifecycle carbon emissions of a nuclear fission plant; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has undertaken no assessment of the lifecycle carbon emissions of a nuclear fission plant.

Ocean-generated Energy

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Government have made of the Ocean WaveMaster Ltd. technology for energy generation, trialled by Manchester university; and what further resources are available for more extensive ocean trials.

Malcolm Wicks: The Ocean WaveMaster Ltd. technology has been assessed under the DTI's Technology Programme.
	The Technology Programme www.dti.gov.uk/technologyprogramme provides grant funding for the research, development and demonstration of wave and tidal stream technologies up to and including single full-scale prototype. Since 1999 around 25 million has been committed to this area.
	In addition, the DTI's Wave and Tidal Stream Energy Demonstration Scheme (subject to state aids approval)
	www.dti.gov.uk/renewables/business_pdfs/waveandtidalstreamdemonstrationscheme.pdf
	will provide 42 million to support the first multi-device wave and tidal stream demonstrations.

Oil Prices

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what forecast has been made of oil barrel prices by the International Energy Agency in each year since 1980; and what the actual price was for each year for which forecasts had been made.

Malcolm Wicks: The IEA does not forecast prices. The IEA publishes forecasts of the fundamentals which could influence the price of a barrel of crude oil, such as the balance of supply and demand. This is as part of its remit to encourage transparent markets to ensure it functions in an efficient and stable manner.
	However, the IEA does produce medium and long term supply and demand forecasts based on price scenarios, where the balance of supply and demand are examined under different price assumptions. These scenarios take into account the current price, together with the cost of production and prospects for economic growth, but do not represent a price forecast.

Patent Applications

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State forTrade and Industry what the Government's policy is on patent applications that may threaten national security.

Alan Johnson: Patents legislation allows Government to withhold from publication any patent application that it considers contains information which might be prejudicial to national security or public safety.

Power Lines (Burial Costs)

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent estimate he has made of the cost of burying power lines in England and Wales.

Malcolm Wicks: To bury the high voltage transmission system would cost approximately 109,000 million. The cost to underground the associated distribution networks would additionally be in the order of 32,000 million. The total cost would therefore be in the order of 141,000 million. Other additional costs due to the re-engineering of the existing system to accommodate only underground cables would further inflate these figures.

Private Finance Initiatives

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible create the minimum of environmental damage;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the sustainability and environmental impacts of (a) the private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible and (b) the effectiveness of the private finance initiative process in delivering environmentally sustainable projects for his Department;
	(3)  what plans he has to make private finance initiative contracts for which his Department is responsible more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability.

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 1496W, to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) that sets out the Government's policy on sustainability in relation to PFI/PPP projects. This is the policy that the Department would follow for future PFI/PPP projects.
	The Department is responsible for long standing PFI/PPP projectsone relating to the Department's IT provision (Elgar) and the other a concession agreement (Constructionline) to operate a prequalification service for companies wishing to undertake public sector construction work. Currently it has no plans for future PFI/PPP projects.
	In regard to Elgar, the Department's agreement with the PFI provider includes a green housekeeping policy that defines the mechanisms for ensuring environmental sustainability. This is followed by the PFI provider when undertaking is procurement activities under the agreement. The provider has programmes in place to ensure that the most environmentally friendly products are provided to the market place. It has a formal policy to address disposal and recycling of IT equipment that complies with EU Directives and EN ISO 90012000. In relation to Constructionline, the prequalification questionnaire asks companies to provide details of their environmental policies and any quality standards met so that clients can take these details into account in establishing long and short lists for tenders.
	The Department is satisfied that the processes in place for its current projects meet environmental objectives.

Private Finance Initiatives

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 83W, on private finance projects, what total value of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is recorded on the Government Balance Sheet; what proportion of assets and liabilities is listed; what the accounting treatment is for assets and liabilities; and whether it is compatible with (a) generally-accepted accounting practices and (b) international financial reporting standards.

Alan Johnson: The two PFI projects for which my Department is responsible do not appear on the Department's (and therefore the Government's) balance sheet. The balance sheet treatment of the Department's PFI/PPP projects is determined by the National Audit Office following Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards issued by the independent Accounting Standards Board.

Renewable Energy

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to encourage and promote the use of renewable energy in Bedfordshire; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Renewables East is the agency which promotes renewable energy in the East of England and is supported by the East of England Development Agency and the DTI. Renewables East has a dedicated programme to develop and promote renewables in the region and to harness the associated economic benefits. With particular reference to Bedfordshire, Renewables East as part of the DTI Its Only Natural campaign held an event with each local authority in 2006. Renewables East is closely linked to the Green Business Network in Bedfordshire which was established this year, and of course the Government have introduced the Renewable Obligation, which is a market-based mechanism for the support of the renewables sector.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his policy is on the creation of a grid to link different countries in respect of the generation of offshore renewable energy.

Malcolm Wicks: The DTI commissioned a report looking at the most economic cable connections for the Round 2 offshore wind farm projects planned around the coast of England and Wales to inform the joint DTI/Ofgem consultation document looking at the high level regulatory options for offshore transmissionRegulation of Offshore Electricity, which is available in the Libraries of the House.
	That study concluded that direct connections to shore for single operators or groups of operators were the cheapest option. We have no policy for the creation of a grid linking those projects with other European countries. That is not to say that in the future as this sector develops it is not an idea that may become attractive.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of energy in each EU country was derived from renewable energy sources in the last period for which figures are available; and what targets each EU country has set for future supplies from such sources.

Malcolm Wicks: The most up-to-date overview of the percentages of energy generated from renewable sources in EU countries (and beyond) is available from an IEA publication called Renewables Information 2005. A summary of the policies and future targets for renewables in EU countries (and others) is available in a separate IEA publication; Renewable Energy: Market and Policy Trends in IEA countries, published in 2004. Both publications are available from the IEA website: www.iea.org.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy and (b) reliability of the method used to calculate relative costs of energy generation by different means; and if he will amend the basis of the calculation used to reflect risk.

Malcolm Wicks: Existing methods of calculation attempt to reflect risk and uncertainty. The relative costs of generation from different technologies depends on factors such as discount rates, plant capital and operating costs, fossil fuel prices, carbon prices and decommissioning and waste management costs. The assumptions made for these costs in respect of each technology mean that there is no single number for generation costs for any technology as they are influenced by a range of factors.

Renewables Obligation

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the change in the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions in each of the first two years of operation of the renewables obligation; and what the cost implications are.

Malcolm Wicks: Providing 10 per cent. of electricity consumption from renewable energy would save about 2.5 million tonnes of carbon per year in 2010 if the equivalent were generated from gas. This equates to a saving of 1.5 per cent. on 1990 emission levels.
	In 2002 the total carbon dioxide emissions for the UK were 152.7 million tonnes of which 44.8 million tonnes was from power stations, in 2003, 156.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted, of which power stations accounted for 47.6 million tonnes and in 2004 the figure was 158.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted of which 47 million tonnes came from power stations.
	On the cost implications, the regulatory impact assessment issued alongside the RO Order predicated that in 201011 the percentage impact on average electricity prices compared to 1999 actual levels would be approximately 4.4 per cent. Ofgem estimated, within their Ofgem's Domestic Competitive Market Review 2004, that the current cost of the RO accounts for 2 per cent. of the domestic debit electricity bill.

Smart Meters

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make an assessment of the effects of the use of smart meters in Italian premises on energy use.

Malcolm Wicks: ENEL, the Italian monopoly utility embarked on a major programme of electricity smart meter installation in 2002. The system, known as advanced automated meter management integrates metering, billing and contract management. By the end of 2004, ENEL had installed 15 million new meters. It intends to install a further 15 million to complete the programme by the end of 2005. Upon completion of the roll-out, the company will undertake a full assessment of the costs and benefits associated with the programme.

Smart Meters

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to encourage the installation of smart meters in all domestic premises; and what discussions he has held with Ofgem on this matter.

Malcolm Wicks: Smart metering is potentially one of a number of measures that could be used to influence domestic energy consumption through improved information to the consumer. Potential benefits include reduced energy consumption, accurate billing and help to disadvantaged sections of society.
	My officials, working closely with Ofgem and DEFRA are currently undertaking a market framework and cost/benefit analysis that will feed into any future Government policy development in this area.

State Aid

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the status of state aid to British Energy; what liabilities the Government have guaranteed; what representations environmental groups have made to him on the subject in the last 12 months; and what discussions he has had with the European Commission thereon.

Malcolm Wicks: The European Commission approved Government Restructuring Aid to BE on 22 September 2004. Government's part in deal is principally:
	Taking financial responsibility for BE's historic nuclear fuel liabilities managed by BNFL. The cost to Government will average 150200 million per annum for the next 10 years, falling thereafter; and
	Underwriting new and enhanced arrangements by the company in the form of a new Nuclear Liabilities Fund to meet decommissioning and other nuclear liabilities.
	BE completed it's restructuring on 14 January 2005.
	The Department has received a number of representations from stakeholders on this issue.

Strategic Reserve

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade andIndustry what the current level of (a) crude oil and (b) products in the Strategic Reserve is; and what (i)releases and (ii) acquisitions have been made in each month in 2005.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK is obliged as a member state of the European Union to hold emergency stocks of oil and as a member of the International Energy Agency to take part in any collective response to a major international supply disruption. The UK meets these international obligations by imposing obligations on commercial companies who hold these stocks as part of their normal operating stocks, rather than by maintaining a Strategic Reserve.
	The UK is currently required to hold stock equivalent to 67.5 days' annual consumption. At the end of July 2005, the UK held stock equal to 78 days' supply, or about 13 million tonnes. 55 per cent. of this was held as crude oil, the rest as products.
	In the course of September 2005, UK companies, in response to the International Energy Agency's call for a release of stocks to help the international market respond to the disruption caused by Hurricane Katrina, released some 400,000 tonnes onto the market. Of this, about 75 per cent. was products, and about 25 per cent. crude oil. They did this while at the same time both increasing exports of gasoline, and keeping the UK market supplied.

Sustainable Energy (China/India)

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the Governments of (a) China and (b) India on sustainable energy.

Malcolm Wicks: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State accompanied the my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister at the EU and UK summits with China and India on 56 and 78 September. Sustainable development was an important part of the outcome.
	The EU-China summit established a China-EU partnership on climate change. It will promote sustainable development though co-operation on the development, deployment and transfer of low carbon technology, including advanced near-zero-emissions coal technology through carbon capture and storage. The EU-India summit launched an Initiative on Clean Development and Climate Change, with the aim of promoting cleaner technologies and their use. A Joint Statement on the summit with China and the Political Declaration on the India-EU Strategic Partnership can be found on the EU website at:
	http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/china/summit_ 0905/index.htm
	and
	http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/india/sum09_05/05_pol_decl_070905.pdf

Telecommunications

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what plans Ofcom has to auction telecommunications licences for the 1.78 GHz and 1.88GHz bands; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number and size of masts required for DVB-H broadcasts to mobile phones;
	(3)  what plans the Government have to allocate radio spectrum for DVB-H broadcasts to mobile phones;
	(4)  what radio frequencies are used by (a) 2G, (b) 2.5G, (c) 3G, (d) Wifi and (e) WiMax communications equipment.

Alun Michael: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom is the independent regulator for the communications sector, deriving its main powers and duties directly from statute rather than by delegation from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and accountable to Parliament in its own right. Accordingly, my officials have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member and to send me a copy of his response. Copies of the chief executive's letter will also be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

UK Trade and Investment (Nigeria)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2005, Official Report, column 1771W, on UK Trade and Investment, if he will place in the Library the off-the-shelf lists of companies that could act as agents in relation to Nigeria provided by UK Trade and Investment to UK companies.

Ian Pearson: UK Trade and Investment does not hold any off-the-shelf lists of potential Nigerian agents.

UK-Europe Gas Interconnector

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the UK-Europe gas Interconnector was unable to import at full capacity during winter 200405; and what assessment he has made of the performance of the facility in 200506.

Malcolm Wicks: The flows of gas through the Interconnector are driven by the price differentials between the UK and the continent. The direction of the flows during winter 200405 was as expected, given the differentials. National Grid, in their Winter Outlook Report 200506, have indicated that they have adopted conservative assumptions that imports through the Interconnector for winter 200506 will be an average level of 42mcm/d, with a maximum capacity of 48mcm/d. The report is published on the Ofgem website at www.ofgem.gov.uk/temp/ofgem/cache/cmsattach/12493_214_05.pdf.

UK-Europe Gas Interconnector

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the UK daily natural gas import capacity via pipeline or LNG was during the winter of 200405; and what the estimated import capacity for the coming winter of 200506 is.

Malcolm Wicks: Total import capacity for winter 200405 was 60mcm/d. For the winter 200506 it is estimated at 95mcm/d. Further information, in particular concerning the likely evolution of UKCS gas production levels and our gas import capability, can be found in the Secretary of State's First Report to Parliament on Security of Gas and Electricity Supply in Great Britain. This was published in July 2005, and is available on the DTI website, at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/publications/policy/sec_supply_first_report.pdf.

Uranium Reserves

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of years' global supply of uranium reserves; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department of Trade and Industry has made no estimate of the global supply of uranium or of the number of years that uranium could be supplied.
	The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency has published a report examining uranium production. The report, Uranium 2003: Resources, Production and Demand (2004 edition can be viewed at the OECD Bookshop website under Statistics Publicationshttp://www.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/index.asp?lang=en)

Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the websites that come under his Department's responsibility; what the cost was of each in the last year for which figures are available; andhow many visitors there were to each site in that year.

Alan Johnson: Information about the Department's websites and their cost is not held centrally and to gather it would involve disproportionate cost. The support cost for the main departmental website (www.dti.gov.uk) is included in the overall service charge paid monthly under the IT service contract in place since 1 April 1999. There is no separation of website costs in this charge.
	Visitors to the main DTI website have been monitored on a consistent basis since August 2004. In the year September 2004 to August 2005, we recorded six million unique visitors and 33.4 million page impressions.

Wind Farms

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment was made by the Department prior to granting consent to the construction of an offshore wind farm on the Rhyl Flats to the potential impact on (a) the visual amenity of residents of the North Wales coast, (b) shipping, (c) avian wildlife and (d) marine wildlife.

Malcolm Wicks: A comprehensive environmental statement was provided by the project developers to support the consent application for the wind farm at Rhyl Flats and this was available to stakeholders and members of the public for their information and comment.
	When taking the decision to grant consent for the project, Ministers considered the results of the public consultation which included responses from the Countryside Council for Wales, the Government's statutory adviser on landscape and nature conservation issues in Wales, the RSPB, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and others, including other Government Departments. None of the organisations mentioned objected to the grant of consent for this wind farm.

Wind Farms

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent Government studies have been undertaken into low frequency noise and vibration emitted by wind turbines; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The following recent studies have been commissioned and examined by the Department :
	The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms, published 1996,
	Noise emission from wind turbines, published 1999,
	Aerodynamic noise reduction for variable speed turbines, published 2000,
	Assessment of the Effects of Noise and Vibration from Offshore Wind Farms on Marine Wildlife, published 2001, and
	Microseismic and infrasound monitoring of low frequency noise and vibrations from Wind Farms on the Eskdalemuir Seismic Array. (Joint study with MOD and BWEA), published 2005.
	One other study 'The measurement and assessment of low frequency noise from three UK wind farms' has been commissioned and should be available this year.

Wind Farms

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what definition his Department uses of low frequency noise and vibration in relation to wind turbines; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Low frequency noise is generally regarded to mean noise in the range of 10 to 200 hertz (HZ). There is no British Standard for measuring low frequency noise and most European countries tend to have their own criterion.
	The current accepted assessment methodology for low frequency noise is ETSU-R-97. It is used by planners for guidance and incorporates a robust refinement of the BS4142 (which is a general noise assessment methodology) appropriate to wind farm noise assessment. ETSU-R-97 provides indicative noise levels thought to offer a reasonable degree of protection to wind farm neighbours, without placing unreasonable restrictions on wind farm developers.

Wind Farms

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what plans his Department has for (a) visits to the area affected by the Teesside off-shore windfarm and (b) discussions with people likely to be affected by the proposed windfarm;
	(2)  what mechanisms are in place to ensure transparency in the decision-making process for the Teesside off-shore windfarm; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how local views will be taken into account in theplanning process for the Teesside off-shore windfarm;
	(4)  what criteria his Department will use to balance the need for renewable energy with (a) economic, (b) environmental and (c) amenity effects of the proposed windfarm in Teesside.

Malcolm Wicks: In taking a decision on an application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity 1989, Ministers will balance the need to meet the Government's targets for renewable energy generation, and thereby reduce carbon emission, against potential local impacts. It is not possible to specify how impacts will be taken into account in individual cases as the implications of different schemes will vary from one project to another. However, the consents process involves public consultation and all representations will be fully considered in deciding whether to grant consent for the project, to turn down the consent request or hold a public inquiry.
	Where relevant, measures to mitigate impacts will also be considered and can be translated into consent conditions. The Department has funded research and produced guidance on the impacts of offshore wind farms and mitigation measures that might be put in place. The determination of a consent application is communicated to the applicant by way of a decision letter. The letter sets out the rationale for the determination and will include assessments of how any objections to the application have been considered. The letter will also be sent to those people and organisations that have made representations during the application process and will be made available more widely on request.
	Officials from the Department of Trade and Industry will visit the Redcar area as part of the consideration of the consent application for the Teesside offshore wind farm. Meetings with representatives of local interest groups and other stakeholders will form part of the visit.

Wind Farms

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether feedback to Ministers from developers relating to the Teeside off-shore windfarm from (a) statutory consultees and (b) non-statutory consultees, will be placed in the public domain (i) before and (ii) after the planning decision is taken; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: There are no plans to put such correspondence in the public domain either before or after the consents decision is taken. However, the decision letter that is sent to the applicant will address all relevant issues including any that arise from such feedback. The decision letter will be made available to other interested parties.
	It is also the case that the full environmental statement supporting the application was made available for public comment.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

106 Agreements

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment has been made of (a) the average cost of a section 106 agreement to a developer and (b) the regulatory cost of section 106 agreements in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: The cost to developers of section 106 agreements may vary significantly depending on the type and size of development, its location and local planning policies. The most recent assessment of the value of planning obligations across England was undertaken by Sheffield University in 1999. The study indicated that the average contribution through a planning obligation for a development in the North was 148,000 and in the South was 754,000.
	Sheffield University and Halcrow Group are currently carrying out research for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister into the value of planning obligations in England. The study is due to report at the end of this year.
	No information is held by Government on the overall administrative costs of complying with planning obligations per year. Some information on costs to local authorities is collected as part of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's annual survey of all local planning authorities, but the coverage of responses is too small to be representative.

Affordable Housing

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of the affordable housing units to be built or procured through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme in the East Midlands Region in (a) 200506, (b) 200607 and (c) 200708 will be (i)mixed funded social rented housing, (ii) temporary social rented housing, (iii) homebuy general market purchase, (iv)homebuy general new build, (v) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (vi) miscellaneous works to RSL stock, (vii) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (viii) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (ix)works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (x)right to acquire, (xi) voluntary purchase grant, (xii) do-it-yourself shared ownership, (xiii) temporary intermediate and (xiv) market rent housing; and how much will be spent on each category in each year.

Yvette Cooper: The following tables show the latest estimated completions and expenditure in the East Midlands region for 200506 through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme, for categories from (i) to (xiv). Funding and completions are not directly comparable, as funding will relate to projects running, not necessarily units completed, in any one year.
	
		Estimated completions in East Midlands region in 200506
		
			   Units 
		
		
			 i Mixed Funded Social Rent 1,181 
			 ii Temporary Social Rent 17 
			 iii Homebuy Market Purchase 274 
			 iv Homebuy New Build 0 
			 v Mixed Funded for Sale 788 
			 vi Miscellaneous works to RSL stock 0 
			 vii Reimprovements to RSL rented stock 2 
			 viii Works only rehabilitation of RSL rented stock 0 
			 ix Works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for Sale 0 
			 x Right to Acquire 13 
			 xi Voluntary Purchase Grant 12 
			 xii Do-it-yourself-shared Ownership 0 
			 xiii Temporary intermediate 0 
			 xiv Market rent housing 0 
		
	
	
		Estimated expenditure in East Midlands region in 200506
		
			million 
		
		
			 i Mixed Funded Social Rent 45.472 
			 ii Temporary Social Rent 0.147 
			 iii Homebuy Market Purchase 8.172 
			 iv Homebuy New Build 0.000 
			 v Mixed Funded for Sale 12.067 
			 vi Miscellaneous works to RSL stock 0.000 
			 vii Reimprovements to RSL rented stock 0.050 
			 viii Works only rehabilitation of RSL rented stock 0.000 
			 ix Works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for Sale 0.000 
			 x Right to Acquire 0.114 
			 xi Voluntary Purchase Grant 0.110 
			 xii Do-it-yourself-shared Ownership 0.000 
			 xiii Temporary intermediate 0.000 
			 xiv Market rent housing 0.000 
		
	
	Source:
	Housing Corporation Information Management System as at 12 October 2005.
	For 200607 and 200708 Regional Housing Boards have made recommendations to Ministers for the allocation of Regional Housing Pots funds. The East Midlands Regional Housing Board has recommended that from their allocation of 284 million for the two years a total of 166 million should be allocated to the provision of affordable housing. However, the exact distribution of funding between programmes for 200608 will not be known until the completion of the Housing Corporation's bidding process.
	In August 2005 the Housing Corporation launched the bidding round for the 200608 Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). This invited both registered social landlords and non-registered bodies to apply for funds to develop affordable housing based on priorities set by the Regional Housing Boards. The outcome of this bidding round will not be known until early in 2006.

Building Regulations

Andrew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what reviews he has undertaken of compliance with PartM of the building regulations.

Yvette Cooper: An early assessment was made in late 2000 of the effect of the 1999 amendment to Part M, which introduced controls for the first time on access to housing. The results were inconclusive as insufficient numbers of dwellings needing to comply with the new requirements had by then been built. A further study commenced in January 2005 and is due to report towards the end of October 2005. No assessment has yet been made of compliance with the requirements for non-domestic buildings introduced on 1 May 2004.

Business Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the net yield from business rates after reliefs in England was in each year since 1997; and what the estimated figure is for 200506.

Phil Woolas: The figures requested are tabled as follows.
	
		 million
		
			  Net rate yields 
			  Local lists Central list CILOR(40) Total 
		
		
			 199798 11,617 1,207 469 13,293 
			 199899 11,919 1,273 440 13,632 
			 19992000 12,383 1,319 332 14,034 
			 200001 13,698 868 9 14,575 
			 200102 14,778 1,048 12 15,838 
			 200203 15,220 1,044 8 16,272 
			 200304 15,464 1,029 10 16,503 
			 200405(41) 15,853 1,037 10 16,900 
			 200506(41) 16,505 1,102 11 17,618 
		
	
	(40)Contribution in lieu of rates for Crown properties. Most Crown properties transferred to local lists with effect from 200001.
	(41)Estimates.
	Source:
	NNDR1 and NNDR3 returns; central government information on central and Crown lists.

Business Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the 2005 business rates revaluation in England was revenue neutral in 200506 on the basis of figures for 200405.

Phil Woolas: Although figures are not available to identify precisely the effect of business rates revaluation, information provided by billing authorities and relating to the Central List shows that the net rate yield increased by 4.2 per cent. between 200405 and 200506, from 16,900 million to 17,618 million.
	This increase is due mainly to uprating the multiplier by 3.1 per cent. in line with the increase in the Retail Prices Index between September 2003 and September 2004.
	The rest of the increase is due to several inter-related factors including: an increase in the multiplier to take account of expected losses from appeals during the lifetime of the 2005 rating list; the increase between years in the number of hereditaments; and the operation of the transitional relief scheme.

Casinos

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning applications to build casinos there have been in the last two years.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Concessionary Bus Fares

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which authorities will incur a net cost as a result of the funding formula for the proposed expansion of the concessionary bus fares scheme for older people.

Phil Woolas: The Government will provide an extra 350 million for the 200607 settlement which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities. No decision has been taken on the funding formula for concessionary fares. This will be announced, alongside other decisions on the settlement formulae, in due course.

Councillors' Remuneration

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what guidance the Government have issued to councils on (a) allowances, (b) salaries and (c) pensions for councillors; and whether they form part of the Local Government Pension Scheme;
	(2)  which local authorities in England make pension provision for councillors;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of pension provision for councillors in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: Each local authority has discretionary powers to offer membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme to those councillors who have been recommended by the authority's Independent Remuneration Panel. The estimated cost to the taxpayer is a matter for individual authorities and would depend on the take-up of membership it had endorsed. Consequently, no information is held centrally on costs or membership of the scheme.
	The guidance which currently applies to allowances and salaries was issued by the Government in 2003, as 'Guidance on Regulation for Local Authority Allowances'. The guidance accompanies the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003. The Government have issued no guidance on pensions for councillors.

Departmental Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department has spent on its website in each year since 2001; and what estimate he has made of the number of visits to the site.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has spent 842,401 on the current ODPM website. Detailed records on website visits have only been kept since 2003 when the latest website was launched:
	
		ODPM website
		
			 Month Unique visitors Page views 
		
		
			 September 2003 76,000 3,136,242 
			 October 2003 94,466 3,167,256 
			 November 2003 102,246 3,009,555 
			 December 2003 69,776 1,572,540 
			 January 2004 110,407 4,009,125 
			 February 2004 112,003 4,019,681 
			 March 2004 132,951 4,302,087 
			 April 2004 101,918 1,797,611 
			 May 2004 113,600 2,469,731 
			 June 2004 104,979 2,271,207 
			 July 2004 105,564 2,212,976 
			 August 2004 109,680 2,022,252 
			 September 2004 121,136 1,867,216 
			 October 2004 139,141 1,927,086 
			 November 2004 153,532 2,215,063 
			 December 2004 126,887 1,659,082 
			 January 2005 185,029 2,371,480 
			 February 2005 170,179 2,219,655 
			 March 2005 188,419 2,572,270 
			 April 2005 200,261 2,679,648 
			 May 2005 199,871 2,690,541 
			 June 2005 176,246 2,605,862 
			 July 2005 169,169 2,523,646 
			 August 2005 167,779 2,489,988

Design for Manufacture Competition

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether value-added tax will be levied on properties built for the design for manufacture competition.

Yvette Cooper: All homes to be built within the design for manufacture competition are new build, and are therefore zero-rated for the purposes of value-added tax.

Design for Manufacture Competition

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what profit margins his Department has calculated for homes constructed in the design for manufacture competition.

Yvette Cooper: The design for manufacture competition is being run by English Partnerships on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. English Partnerships is currently evaluating bids from developers for stage three of the design for manufacture competition. Final development proposals and planning applications for each site will determine the mix of housing types, sale prices and community facilities.
	English Partnerships has asked developers to include a profit margin within the 60,000 construction cost for the dwellings. As part of the bid evaluation process English Partnerships is considering the reasonableness of such construction profit margins in relationship to the project risk. English Partnerships has set clawback terms linked to final sales prices over base values to be agreed with each developer in negotiation, so the agency will benefit if the land generates values higher than anticipated.

Design for Manufacture Competition

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the average sale price of a house constructed in the design for manufacture competition.

Yvette Cooper: The design for manufacture competition is being run by English Partnerships on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. English Partnerships is currently evaluating bids from developers for stage three of the design for manufacture competition. Final development proposals and planning applications will determine the mix of housing types, sale prices and community facilities for each site.
	English Partnerships carried out base valuations of the sites before the start of the competition, which included an estimate of projected sales prices for the mix of homes on each site. The final sales prices will be determined by the developers according to local market circumstances. The nine competition sites are as far apart as Leeds and Hastings. Average sales prices will therefore vary between sites according to local market conditions.

Empty Homes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) second homes and (b) empty homes there were in each local authority area in England in the latest year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: A table containing the number of (a) second homes and (b) empty homes in each billing authority area in England as at November 2004, the latest year for which figures are available, has been placed in the Library of the House. The data are as reported on CTB1 and CTB1S forms submitted by local authorities to ODPM each year. (Variations in reporting and misclassification may affect the accuracy of these figures for some areas). The figures for empty homes include both long and short-term empty properties.

Empty Homes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what maximum duration a local authority may possess a property under an empty dwelling management order; and what restrictions exist on (a) renewing and (b) extending orders.

Yvette Cooper: The maximum duration for an interim Empty Dwelling Management Order is 12 months but it may be made for a shorter period, or revoked before the end of the period specified in the Order. An interim Empty Dwelling Management Order cannot be renewed. On cessation of the order, the local housing authority must either take no further action or make a final Empty Dwelling Management Order. An interim Order can only be made with the authority of a residential property tribunal. Before deciding to apply for such an Order the authority is required to make reasonable efforts to notify the relevant proprietor of the dwelling that it is considering making an order and to ascertain what steps are being taken or are intended to be taken to secure that the dwelling is occupied. It must take account of the rights of the relevant proprietor and the interests of the wider community.
	The maximum duration for a final Empty Dwelling Management Order is seven years, but again it may be made for a shorter period or revoked before the end of the period specified in the Order. A local housing authority may make a new final Empty Dwelling Management Order to replace one that has expired if it considers that otherwise the dwelling would become or remain unoccupied. Where the dwelling in question is unoccupied, the authority may only make a new final Empty Dwelling Management Order if it has taken all such steps as it was appropriate to take under the existing order with a view to securing occupation of the dwelling. It must, again, take into account the interests of the community and the effect the order will have on the rights of the relevant proprietor or on third parties. It must also consider whether compensation should be paid by them to any third party in respect of any interference in consequence of the order with the rights of the third party.

Empty Homes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether local authorities are required to charge a market rent on properties obtained under an empty dwelling management order and then rented out to a third party.

Yvette Cooper: Local authorities will not be required to charge a market rent on properties subject to Empty Dwelling Management Orders. A final Empty Dwelling Management Order must contain a management scheme containing details of income and expenditure. This must include, amongst other things, the amount of rent or other payments the local authority considers the dwelling might reasonably fetch on the open market and the amount of rent or other payments the local authority will seek to obtain. The scheme must also state the authority's intentions as regards the use of the rent or other payments to meet relevant expenditure. The authority may in certain circumstances recover from the relevant proprietor the difference between the amount it has received in rent and other payments and the amount it has paid out in relevant expenditure.

Empty Homes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much an owner of a property will receive from a local authority for their property that has been rented out to a third party under an empty dwelling management order.

Yvette Cooper: Any rent or other payment which the authority collects or recovers from persons occupying or having the right to occupy may be used to meet expenditure reasonably incurred and any compensation payable to a third party under the order. The authority is obliged to pay the relevant proprietor any amount of rents or other payments that remain after deduction of such expenditure. It is obliged to keep full accounts ofits income and expenditure in respect of the dwelling and allow access by anyone with an estate or interest in the dwelling access to those accounts.

Fire Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the new south-east regional fire control room in Fareham is expected to be operative; whether the new site is fully resilient; what its estimated cost is; what other locations were considered; what assessment was made of (a) local labour market conditions and (b) the cost and availability of suitable premises in each case; by whom, and on whose recommendation, the decision to situate the regional fire control room in Fareham was made; which fire authorities have expressed support for the decision; and whether a new building will be required.

Jim Fitzpatrick: On current plans the south-east control centre will be operational in 200809. The new centre will form part of a fully resilient national network. The site will be secure. The selection of the site was the result of a procurement process carried out under EU procurement regulations and the availability of suitable labour formed part of the criteria. An assessment was made before going out to tender as to whether there would be a choice of suitable sites, and sites with existing premises were not ruled out of consideration. The decision on the Fareham site was taken by a qualified panel of specialists, and the chair of the SE Regional Management Board was fully briefed on the entire process. Support of particular Fire and Rescue Authorities in the region was not a selection criterion. A new building will be required and an artist's impression of it is on the website: http://www.firecontrol.odpm.gov.uk/
	The up front cost of the development will be borne by the private developer and is commercially confidential. The building will be leased and over a 25 year period the net present value of the contract is 22,148,695.
	Sites were submitted in the following areas in response to an OJEU notice posted on 16 April 2004. Note that for some locations more than one site was put forward:
	Ashford, Aldermaston, Aylesford, Bracknell, Chessington, Cosham, Crawley, Crowthorne, Dartford, Eastbourne, Fareham, Folkstone, Harwell, Havant, Hook, Kingsworthy, Lindford Wood, Milton Keynes, Reading, Sittingbourne, Slough, Tingewick, West Drayton, and West Mailing.

Government Offices

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the size and structure of the Government office regions are dependent on EU approval under the Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics classification regulations.

Yvette Cooper: No. The size and structure of the English regions are an administrative matter for UK Ministers. The current regions have existed for various planning and statistical purposes since the second world war, with some minor changes over time. The Government offices for the regions, the regional development agencies and other parts of Government operate to these boundaries.
	For practical reasons of data availability and the implementation of regional policies, the NUTS nomenclature is based primarily on the institutional divisions currently in force in the member states.

Home Ownership

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the Government has made of the numberof people in England who have three or more homes.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Homelessness

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes have been made to the presentation of homelessness statistics in his departmental press releases and statistical bulletins in the last six months.

Yvette Cooper: Summary information about local authorities' activities under the homelessness legislation in England is published in quarterly National Statistics Releases, on pre-announced publication dates.
	In the Sustainable CommunitiesHomes for All strategy published in January this year there was a commitment that ... we will be reviewing the way we collect homelessness statistics, to improve our understanding of who is homeless and the circumstances in which they are living. This included improving the presentation of the information on statutory homelessness, and the layout of the quarterly release was revised using charts and maps to more clearly present the information, and to incorporate additional information (such as length of time spent in temporary accommodation) which had been collected but not previously published.
	The revised format was then issued for public consultation in April, inviting comments on the new layout.
	The Statistical Release published on 13 June, covering statistics for the first quarter of 2005, was the first to be produced using the new format. Copies of these and previous releases are available on the ODPM website and also in the Library of the House.

Homelessness

Richard Burden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received about the practices adopted by Birmingham city council in relation to its responsibilities to the homeless; and what action he is taking on the matter.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received representations from hon. Members for Birmingham, Northfield and Birmingham, Selly Oak, about Birmingham city council's practice when receiving homeless applications for housing assistance from private sector tenants whose tenancy is coming to an end.
	Officials in ODPM provide ongoing advice and support to all local housing authorities, including Birmingham city council, in their work to prevent homelessness. The practice that we encourage all of them to follow is to tackle homelessness at the earliest opportunity, by enabling people to continue to live in their current accommodation where possible or helping them to obtain suitable alternative accommodation. It is not good practice to simply advise people to remain in their accommodation until their landlord obtains a court order for possession and the bailiffs arrive, and we advise against that.
	Following initial enquiries, Birmingham city council has informed officials that it is adopting the good practice we advocate in these circumstances. However, officials from ODPM'S homelessness and housing support directorate are due to meet senior officers from Birmingham city council shortly to discuss the policies being pursued by the housing authority and provide further guidance if needed.

Household Projections

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish the household projections for the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: A release date for the 2003 based Household Projections for England will be pre-announced on the National Statistics website as soon as the work is complete.

Housing

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were on the housing register in each English local authority for each year from 199697 to 200506; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns. Local authorities sometimes maintain a common waiting list with the housing association(s) in their district. However, information is not held centrally where a housing association maintains a separate waiting list to the local authority.
	The annual data from this source for the years 1996 through to 2005 have been placed in the Library of the House.

Housing

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what process was followed to assess the impact of the withdrawal of the supported housing management grant to residential care homes for vulnerable people with disabilities in (a) Sutton Coldfield and (b) the West Midlands over the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: Authorities and providers were informed in 2001 that the sheltered housing management grant (SHMG) in residential care homes would be ineligible for long term SP funding and alternative funding should be sought before 1 April 2006. It was a matter for local authorities to assess the impact on the local area and ensure that appropriate funding was in place.

Housing

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what alternative funding provision has been made available to those in receipt of the supported housing management grant in (a) Sutton Coldfield and (b) the West Midlands.

Yvette Cooper: No alternative central funding provision has been made available to those in receipt of supported housing management grant (SHMG) as SHMG was transferred in to the Supporting People fund with effect from 1 April 2003.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of the members of his housing task force have left to work in the private sector since its creation; and what restrictions are placed on their leaving to join (a) housing associations and (b) financial institutions financing council housing privatisation.

Yvette Cooper: Since its creation, three people have left the community housing taskforce to work in the private sector. There are no restrictions placed on their leaving.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will extend the work of his housing task force to include advising local authorities who decide to retain their housing stock.

Yvette Cooper: The Community Housing Task Force already performs this function.

Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his housing task force provides adviceto local authorities who retain their own housing stock.

Yvette Cooper: Yes.

Interreg Project

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the future of the Interreg Project.

Yvette Cooper: The European Commission has proposed that, during the period of the next EU Financial perspective (200713), the current Interreg programme should be replaced by a new European Territorial Co-operation Objective designed to support financially cross border and trans-national projects on matters relating to economic, social and environmental activities. The UK supports the principle of such an objective. This proposal, along with other matters covered in proposed new Structural Fund Regulations, is under discussion in the European Council. It is the UK's intention to make as much progress as possible with these discussions during its Presidency. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with other interested Departments and the Devolved Administrations in supporting the UK's position in these discussions.

Local Authority Housing

Andrew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities have entered into private finance initiative contracts for the maintenance of their stock of council houses.

Yvette Cooper: Five local authorities (Manchester, Reading, Leeds and the London boroughs of Islington and Newham) have entered into private finance initiative contracts to refurbish, maintain and also manage some of their stock of council dwellings to the Decent Homes Standard and beyond over a 30 year period.

Local Authority Legal Advisers

Nick Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines are issued by his Department to local authorities concerning the obligations of local authority legal advisers.

Phil Woolas: Section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and article 23 of the Local Authorities (Executive and Alternative Arrangements) (Modification of Enactments and Other Provisions) (England) Order 2001 require each local authority to appoint a monitoring officer to provide legal advice to their authority. This legislation sets out the obligations placed upon that officer.

Local Public Service Boards

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to introduce local public service boards.

Phil Woolas: Our policy is to encourage local authorities and local strategic partnerships to decide upon their own arrangements for working together to improve the well-being of their areas through community strategies and local area agreements. We do not promote any single model.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) whether the amended remit of the Lyons Inquiry (a) includes and (b) prohibits consideration of (i) the structure and tiers of local government and (ii) the number of councillors;
	(2)  whether the extended remit of the Lyons Inquiry includes the review of the two-tier structure of local government in England.

Phil Woolas: The extended remit of Sir Michael's independent inquiry into local government funding, and the current and emerging role of local government, was announced on 20 September. A copy of that announcement, which incorporates the extended terms of reference for Sir Michael's inquiry, has been placed in the House Library. The terms do not include consideration of the structures of local government.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations his Department's working group on Local Government Financial Statistics has made to the Lyons Inquiry.

Phil Woolas: The Working Group on Local Government Financial Statistics (WGLGFS) has not made any representations to the Lyons Inquiry.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the Lyons Inquiry into local government finance to publish its interim report.

Phil Woolas: Sir Michael Lyons will produce his final report at the end of 2006. Meanwhile in autumn 2005, to set the scene for the next phase of his inquiry, he will set out his preliminary thinking and publish research and analysis undertaken so far, drawing out the relationship of local government function to finance.

Parking

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes the Government have made to planning guidance and regulations on the (a) provision of parking spaces and (b) level of parking charges since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Planning guidance on residential parking spaces is contained in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing (PPG3), published in March 2000. PPG3 advises local authorities that car parking standards that result, on average, in development with more than 1.5 off-street car parking spaces per dwelling are unlikely to reflect the Government's emphasis on securing sustainable residential environments. This does not mean we expect all dwellings in all developments to have 1.5 parking spaces. But we do expect local authorities to anticipate the pattern of parking needs in their area and draw up policies for car parking provision that will deliver the approach set out in PPG3.
	Planning Policy Guidance Note 13: Transport (PPG 13) was published in March 2001. PPG13 notes that reducing the amount of parking in new development (and in the expansion and change of use in existing development) is essential, as part of a package of planning and transport measures, to promote sustainable travel choices. Annex D of PPG13 sets out national maximum parking standards for a range of major developments. Local authorities may adopt more rigorous standards subject to the advice in PPG13.
	The Government does not regulate the level of parking charges. The Secretary of State for Transport does, however, give guidance to local authorities outside London with Decriminalised Parking Enforcement powers on the setting of parking charges. This guidance is set out in paragraphs 4.94.14 of Local Authority Circular 1/95Guidance on Decriminalised Parking Enforcement outside London.
	Inside London, it is the Mayor who issues guidance to local authorities on parking matters.

Pathfinder Areas

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated total public expenditure is in each of the Pathfinder areas for each year of the programme.

Yvette Cooper: Information on total public expenditure in Pathfinder areas is not available. Total payments to the housing market renewal pathfinders, including housing market renewal funding, separate early action funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and payments from the capital modernisation fund are shown in the table:
	
		 million
		
			 Pathfinder 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Birmingham Sandwell 6.6 13.4 
			 East Lancashire 6. 6 22.8 
			 Hull and East Riding 0 2.6 
			 Manchester Salford 20 44 
			 Merseyside 6.6 34.3 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 9.6 28 
			 North Staffordshire 6.6 7 
			 Oldham Rochdale 6.6 17.1 
			 South Yorkshire 6.6 27.4 
			 Total 69.2 196.6

Pathfinder Areas

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what is the estimated cost of purchasing a property in the Pathfinder areas in order to demolish it.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Pathfinder Areas

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister howmany homes are planned to be demolished in each of the Pathfinder project areas for each year of the programme.

Yvette Cooper: Funding and planned outputs have been agreed with Pathfinders for the period up to March 2006. In total, the programme is planned to deliver 21,000 refurbished homes, 3,000 new homes and 10,000 demolitions by that date.
	Actual demolitions for 200405 and expected figures for 200506 are:
	
		
			  Demolitions funded by housing market renewal grant 
			 Pathfinder Actual 200405 Estimate 200506 
		
		
			 Birmingham Sandwell 71 619 
			 East Lancashire 397 393 
			 Hull and East Riding 0 44 
			 Manchester Salford 677 1,023 
			 Merseyside 122 2,578 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 409 1,591 
			 North Staffordshire 234 n/a 
			 Oldham Rochdale 78 222 
			 South Yorkshire 1,097 503 
		
	
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be agreeing funding and outputs for the next two financial years towards the end of this year and early next year.

Planning Permission

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will make provision for the public to appeal in a planning permission application case where the matter is of considerable public interest;
	(2)  whether there are conditions under which members of the public may appeal a planning permission decision.

Yvette Cooper: Third parties do not have a right of appeal in the way that applicants do because it is the responsibility of local planning authorities to act in the general public interest when determining planning applications. Local authorities must determine planning applications in accordance with the development plan for the area unless material considerations indicate otherwise. They must take account of the views of local people on planning matters before taking decisions and elected members must justify their decisions subsequently to their electorate. Any right of appeal for third parties would slow down the system. Furthermore, it would not be consistent with our democratically accountable system of planning.

PPG3/PPS3

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects a (a) draft and (b) final version of the new PPG3/PPS3 to be published.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to publish for consultation a draft of new Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) before the end of the year, with the aim of publishing a final version of PPS3 as soon as practicable after the consultation period has closed.

Public Services (Inspection)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how Cabinet Office plans for league tables of public services will relate to local government and existing inspection regimes; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Cabinet Office has no plans for league tables of public services. A plan has been developed for a Customer Satisfaction Index, which was announced in a speech by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the Social Market Foundation on 24 August this year, but this does not involve producing league tables of organisations. This index will provide information on specific encounters with services, which may be delivered by single or multiple organisations. No conflict is envisaged with other existing sector based schemes.

Regional Assemblies

John Pugh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the decision-making powers of regional assemblies.

Yvette Cooper: Regional assemblies have no statutory powers but are designated under section 8(1) of the RDA Act to contribute to the regional economic strategies produced by the regional development agencies and scrutinise their delivery.
	In their capacity as regional planning bodies they have a statutory duty to oversee the Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) including its monitoring and implementation and preparing draft revisions where necessary.

Regional Chambers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether England's regional chambers are defined in (a) law and (b) Government policy as part of local government in England.

Yvette Cooper: The regional assemblies are voluntary bodies comprising local authorities and regional economic and social partners. They are not a part of local government.

Regional Chambers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance the Government have produced on the legality of local authorities making payments to England's regional chambers; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government do not produce guidance relating specifically to local authority payments to regional assemblies.

Regional Chambers

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the level of central government funding to each regional chamber in each year since their creation was; and what the estimated figures for (a) 200506 and (b) 200607 are.

Yvette Cooper: Past and current grants made by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) are as follows.
	
		
		
			  200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 North East 500,000 600,000 1,408,000 1,708,000 1,708,000 
			 North West 500.000 600,000 1,837,000 2,536,000 2,536,000 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 500,000 600,000 1,655,000 1,923,000 1,923,000 
			 West Midlands 500,000 600,000 1,671,000 2,071,000 2,071,000 
			 East Midlands 500,000 600,000 1,631,000 2,056,000 2,056,000 
			 East 500,000 600,000 1,874,000 2,112,000 2,112,000 
			 South East 500,000 600,000 2,186,000 3,280,000 3,280,000 
			 South West 500,000 600,000 1,613,000 2,101,000 2,101,000 
			 English Regions Network 100,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 
			 Total 4,100,000 5,000,000 14,075,000 17,987,000 17,987,000 
		
	
	The grant supports the assemblies in the performance of their designated functions to scrutinise the work of the Regional Development Agencies; fulfil their regional planning responsibilities; and for the development of their strategic regional role.
	The increase in funding from 200304 was granted in recognition of the statutory responsibilities that were placed on them as regional planning bodies by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
	The overall ODPM grant available to regional assemblies is set to increase to 19 million in 200607 but as yet no decision has been made on how it will be allocated.

Regional Emphasis Documents

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to commission regional emphasis documents from the Government officer of the regions, regional development agencies and regional assemblies; and what the timetable is for their publication.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government invited the regions to submit an input into the 2004 Spending Review in the form of regional emphasis documents. The Government's plans for the Comprehensive Spending Review were set out in a statement to the House on 19 July 2005. Further details will be published in due course.

Small Business Rate Relief

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the interim take-up of small business rate relief was in each council in England.

Phil Woolas: This information is not available centrally. On the basis of returns completed by local authorities before the start of the current financial year, an estimated 390 million is expected to be claimed in small business rate relief for 200506 (the first year in which the scheme has been operating). Applications for small business rate relief may be made up to six months after the end of the financial year to which the application relates, or six months from notification of an alteration to a rateable value that makes the hereditament eligible for relief.

Small Business Rate Relief

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether small business rate relief is available in relationto the levy charged by business improvement districts.

Phil Woolas: No. Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are business-led initiatives to deliver improvements in a defined business area. It is the businesses themselves who decide on the amount of and the arrangements for paying the levy and who vote in a ballot on whether or not a proposed scheme should go ahead. However, many BID proposals exclude smaller properties from the BID levy or offer special terms for small properties.

Social Housing

Frank Field: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact on smaller registered social landlords of requiring all lead regulated associations to produce an annual efficiency statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Housing Corporation does not require smaller RSLs with fewer than 250 housing units to produce an annual efficiency statement. Consistent with its policy of minimising regulatory burdens, the Corporation is not prescribing the form of the efficiency statement and is basing it on self-assessment. Well-managed organisations should already be collecting the information required to make this return.

Social Housing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to respond to the Audit Commission's report on Financing Council Housing; and what changes to the present system would be necessary to implement the recommendations.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering carefully the points raised in the Audit Commission report.

Telecommunication Masts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what planning controls apply to (a) Network Rail telecommunication masts and (b) standard mobile phone masts.

Yvette Cooper: Class A of Part 17 of the GPDO, permits development by a railway undertaker on its operational land required in connection with the movement of traffic by rail, this permission includes telecommunication masts but only for the communications system for railways (GSM-R).
	Mobile phone masts are subject to the normal planning regulations in place throughout England, unless exempted by the regulations set out in Part 24 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) as amended by SI2115/2003).

Telecommunication Masts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many mobile phone masts were registered for business rates in England in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: The number of non-domestic hereditaments shown in the Rating List, for England, under the description of Communication Stations, are as provided in the table. The Valuation Office Agency does not hold statistics, of this nature, earlier than 1998.
	
		
			 Statistics as at: Number 
		
		
			 1 April 1998 3,549 
			 1 April 1999 8,322 
			 31 July 2000 11,560 
			 31 March 2001 12,265 
			 31 March 2002 12,709 
			 31 March 2003 17,233 
			 31 March 2004 19,354 
			 31 March 2005 20,930

Telecommunication Masts

David Evennett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received about the proliferation of telecommunication mast applications in residential areas; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister receives many representations on matters relating to the telecommunications industry. The information about such representations is not readily available in the breakdown requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Thames Gateway

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment the Government have made of flood risks to Thames Gateway developments arising from the Communities Plan.

Yvette Cooper: Growth in the Thames Gateway will be largely concentrated on previously developed land in existing urban areas which is already protected by a very high standard of existing defence. Development will be in line with Planning Policy Guidance Note 25, which applies a sequential risk-based approach to prevent inappropriate development in flood risk areas. In order to enable local planning authorities to apply planning policy effectively, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is funding Strategic Flood Risk Assessments across the Thames Gateway to assess flood risk and inform planning decisions.

WiMax Transmitters

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what planning controls apply to WiMax transmitters.

Yvette Cooper: WiMAX transmitters are subject to the normal planning regulations in place throughout England, unless exempted by the regulations set out in Part 24 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) as amended by SI 2115/2003).